University Lecturers' Narratives on Teaching ESL Online: An Ethnomethodological Study

Authors

Marlon D. Sipe, Research Center for Language Teaching & Learning; School of Languages & General Education, Walailak University, ThailandFollow
Jean A. Saludadez, Faculty of Information & Communication Studies, University of the Philippines Open University, PhilippinesFollow

Abstract

The shift to remote teaching during the pandemic has influenced the way the lecturers teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at Asian universities. Studied through the lens of ethnomethodology which focuses on understanding what the lecturers do in the face of pandemic, this investigation was conducted to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the ESL teaching practices of the University lecturers during the pandemic? (2) How do these practices accomplish ESL learning among students? In this study, the teaching practices of the participants constitute the meaning that explains how learning takes place. Three lecturers from three Asian universities were interviewed online. The interview data were transcribed and a thematic analysis was employed. Our analysis surfaces four teaching practices that define the occurrence of ‘learning’. These practices include the 4Es: employing internet and technology for teaching, exercising flexibility and creativity, engaging students through online consultations, and establishing friendly relations with students. As a result, this qualitative study offers practical implications for how teaching and learning take place in the university classroom during a pandemic. In summary, this research endeavor is of international relevance as its findings reflect the lecturers’ practices that accomplish learning amidst restrictions on face-to-face instruction.

Keywords

ethnomethodology, teaching ESL, pandemic, teaching practices, university lecturers

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Marlon D. Sipe is currently connected with Walailak University as an assistant professor at the School of Languages and General Education. He is a teacher by profession and has earned over a decade of teaching experience in Thailand. His research interests include ESL/EFL teaching and learning in Asian contexts. Please direct correspondence to sipemarlon@gmail.com

Dr. Jean A. Saludadez teaches research paradigms at the graduate level. Her research interest is in understanding organizations through the lens of the Communication as Constitutive of Organization perspective. She recently published a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Communication as Constitutive of Organization.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants of this study for sharing their time with us during the interview.

Publication Date

1-19-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2026.7208

Recommended APA Citation

Sipe, M. D., & Saludadez, J. A. (2026). University lecturers' narratives on teaching ESL online: An ethnomethodological study. The Qualitative Report, 31(1), 4922-4939. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2026.7208

ORCID ID

0000-0003-1099-9746