Effectiveness of a Program Based on Virtual Classroom Environment in Developing English Language Translation skills for Open Education Students

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of a virtual classroom environment in developing Translation skills for open education students. The study used a one treatment group quasi-experimental design, in which thirty-five Egyptian Open Education students enrolled in the Translation Program at the Open Learning Centre, Cairo University in year 2019/2020 were randomly chosen. To test hypotheses, five instruments were administered on different intervals during 10-week treatment utilizing descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze data quantitatively and qualitatively. instruments included translation skills questionnaire, pre/post EFL Translation skills test, rubrics, Reflection log for students, and participants' satisfaction questionnaire. Findings revealed that teaching through virtual classroom environment has an effectiveness in developing students’ translation skills from English language into Arabic language and vice versa as indicated by their posttest scores. Moreover, students showed significant satisfaction with the proposed program. Keywords: Virtual classrooms, virtual environment, translation skills, Open Education, Egypt.