Arab Educational Information Network

There has been a vast growth in Syria in the number of learners seeking higher education and, consequently, in the corresponding channels of providing it. Due to the constraints of the traditional educational sector, distance learning is providing Syrians with an alternative means of education. One such example is the Syrian Virtual University (SVU), which offers students the opportunity to gain education through an online learning environment based on the latest technology. Since Syria is a country where English has become an important educational requirement, the teaching of English has therefore entered the arena of distance learning. Though studying at a distance offers learners flexibility, it puts a great deal of demands on them too; hence the importance of efficient support systems. The objective of this paper is to make a first-hand evaluation of how successful has the SVU’s support system been in laying the ground for effective distant English language teaching and learning. It draws on students’ perceptions in order to evaluate the efficacy of the existing support system in helping learners achieve successful learning outcomes.Within a conceptual framework that has been built upon models of teaching and learning at-a-distance, both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for data collection and analysis. Although the major forms of support provided were found to be relevant to students, the study highlights the need to improve the current level of student satisfaction. This can be achieved by taking a number of steps: increasing the technological infrastructure and services to match the rapid growth of this young university, maximizing autonomy through teaching learning skills side by side with language skills, introducing a radical change of tutors’ perspective and practice in teaching to incorporate constructivists’ approaches, and exploiting the multimedia to enhance students networking and group learning.