An Investigation of the EFL Learners' Perceptions about Virtual Classes During COVID-19 in Hafr Al Batin University

COVID-19 pandemic and the following preventive measures required a transition from the traditional face to face learning methods to the online ones. The study aimed to investigate the EFL Learners' perceptions about virtual classes during the pandemic in Hafr Al Batin University in Saudi Arabia. In the study, a quantitative research method was adopted. It aims at assessing EFL learners' perspectives towards virtual classes and the main benefits gained from them. The participants were composed of randomly selected a hundred and thirty-four Saudi female undergraduate EFL students at the University of Hafr Al Batin. Th data were collected via a thirty-item questionnaire developed by the researcher. The results revealed that the EFL learners at Hafr Al Batin University were positively disposed toward virtual classes. The merits of virtual classes that the participants cite were efficient communication, immediate feedback, and exciting teaching methods and materials. The study recommended virtual classes for learning and teaching in EFL environments like Saudi Arabia.