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.