Exploring Moroccan EFL Teachers' Engagement in a WhatsApp Professional Development Group: Benefits and Concerns

Benefits and Concerns

https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlts.v4i4.378

Authors

  • Yassine Raha Faculty of Languages ,Art and Literature
  • Walid Mima Laboratory: Language and Society /Ibn Tofail University
  • Benmhamed Mohamed Laboratory: Language and Society /Ibn Tofail University

Keywords:

Online communities, Professional Development, WhatsApp,

Abstract

This study explores the involvement of Moroccan EFL teachers in a WhatsApp group called "Professional Development" and their perceptions of online communities, particularly WhatsApp, concerning their professional development. Through a combination of WhatsApp group observation and semi-structured interviews, 20 EFL teachers from diverse locations across Morocco were engaged. The data collected were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that WhatsApp serves as a valuable platform for teachers to access teaching materials such as tests, quizzes, PDF books, and official circulars from the Ministry of Education. Additionally, 71.4% of the participants emphasize the significance of virtual communities for their professional development. However, 28.6% of the teachers express concerns about WhatsApp being a waste of time due to the sharing of irrelevant content and chaotic discussions that divert the group from its primary purpose.

Published

2023-09-30

How to Cite

Raha, Y., Mima, W. ., & Mohamed, B. . (2023). Exploring Moroccan EFL Teachers’ Engagement in a WhatsApp Professional Development Group: Benefits and Concerns: Benefits and Concerns. International Journal of Linguistics and Translation Studies, 4(4), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlts.v4i4.378

Issue

Section

Articles