Iranian EFL Students' Perspectives on Challenges of Using Abstract Technology in Their Classroom Contexts

The present study aims to investigate the main challenges faced by English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) students when using technology in classrooms. The participants were ۱۵ Iranian EFL students studying in a private English language teaching institute in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the challenges of using technology in EFL classrooms in more depth. Data analysis involved coding the collected data to identify recurring themes and patterns related to the challenges of using technology in EFL classrooms. The results underscore the complexity of integrating technology into EFL classrooms, highlighting significant challenges students are faced with such as: (۱) technical and infrastructural issues, (۲) domain-specific digital literacy deficits, and (۳) insufficient pedagogical support from teachers. It is suggested that by understanding these perspectives and addressing the identified challenges, teachers can create more effective and inclusive learning experiences to enhance the full potential of technology in EFL classrooms.

Keywords:

technology integration challenges , EFL students' perspectives , semi-structured interviews