COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Learning Impact on English Communication Self-Confidence Level Among Diploma Pharmacy Students

Roz Azinur Che Lamin; Nursyuhadah Othman; Ahmad Mursyidin Arifin; Nur Syadiyah Hapipi; Nur Tihani Sofia Mohamed Kamil; Wan Nor Sazrina Izzati Wan Mohamad Helmi; Azwandi Ahmad

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v10i11.3677

Roz Azinur Che Lamin Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Nursyuhadah Othman Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Ahmad Mursyidin Arifin Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Nur Syadiyah Hapipi Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Nur Tihani Sofia Mohamed Kamil Fakulti Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Wan Nor Sazrina Izzati Wan Mohamad Helmi Fakulti Pengurusan dan Perniagaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Email: wnszrinaizzati13@gmail.com
Azwandi Ahmad Fakulti Farmasi, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v10i11.3677

Keywords: Pharmacy diploma student, English, Online learning, Confidence level, COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

At Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), English serves as the primary medium for teaching and learning. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, the instructional method shifted from face-to-face interaction to online mode. The change in study mode may cause uncertainty in English proficiency among students who studied throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the online learning effect on pharmacy students’ confidence in English before (2020 to 2022) and after the hospital internship (2023). The data was collected through a pre-validated questionnaire and self-administered among 90 pharmacy diploma students enrolled at the UiTM from June to July 2023, with their median age 21-year-old. The findings showed that students' percentage level of confidence before hospital practical attachment was moderate (n=67, 74.5%) and high (n=20, 22.2%). Meanwhile, all students (n=90, 100.0%) reported low English communication confidence levels after their hospital internship. This study reveals that students’ English communication self-confidence during hospital training has decreased compared to throughout the first and second year of study, possibly due to the limited direct interaction in English during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, online learning may be a limiting factor in building self-confidence in communicating in English when in a hospital setting for the post-COVID-19 student cohort.

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