Effectiveness of Blended Approach in Teaching and Learning of Language Skills in Saudi Context: A Case Study

The blended approach serves as an effective interface between web-based and face-to-face teaching and learning of language skills. It offers the best of both and commoditizes broad-based teaching and learning avenues thereby bringing the whole teaching and learning process to life. An empirical study conducted on EFL/ESP teachers and learners of Saudi universities indicates that adopting a fully online or a fully offline approach is not as effective as a blended approach. The overwhelming majority of the respondents illustrate that a blended approach offers a rich variety of alternatives combining both online and offline platforms. It is also evident from the findings of the current study that even a technophobic teacher of the old generation can enrich his pedagogical effectiveness while navigating and integrating a vast variety of authentic online resources in his face-to-face teaching. Nevertheless, a learner can also learn language skills effectively by interacting with the dynamic instructors in a face-to-face environment and by repeatedly using online audio-video learning resources at his convenient time. In fact, modern learners are becoming more tech-savvy owing to an exponential growth of Internet usage during the current pandemic of COVID-19, and hence willing to embrace digital learning to enhance their learning experiences. So, let both get intertwined and go hand in hand to revitalize both teaching and learning activities. The amalgamation of the interactive dynamic environment of offline and individualized/independent learning online offers a rounded learning experience.