A Systematic Review of the Blackboard in Teaching the Speaking Skill During the Corona Pandemic COVID-19

Abstract

The Corona pandemic has significantly impacted the global educational system. In order to stop the virus from spreading, schools and institutions had to close their doors. Thus students were forced to adapt to online learning environments. This sudden shift to online education has posed various challenges for students and teachers, such as limited access to technology and difficulties maintaining engagement and motivation. As a result, the pandemic has highlighted the need for innovative approaches and increased investment in digital infrastructure to ensure the continuity of education during times of crisis. Since most teachers and students find speaking difficult, speaking skills are often ignored in ESL/EFL classrooms. Due to the required online instruction and learning, it becomes harder as the worldwide crisis of COVID-19 continues. The present study explores the effectiveness of Blackboard as a language instruction tool and investigates the potential limitations and challenges in speaking skills during the COVID-19 pandemic.  A systematic review was conducted, and 12 were chosen that were written during the pandemic. The current study examined quantitative and qualitative articles following their relevance in the Saudi context to develop the speaking skills of Saudi students of EFL. This research supports the assumption that EFL students in Saudi Arabia might benefit from using Blackboard as a speaking practice environment. This article aims to provide a general overview of how Blackboard's virtual class is used to help Saudi EFL learners overcome their language barriers and analyse their speaking skills. The findings of this research demonstrate how students' prior experiences with online learning using Blackboard positively impacted their conclusions. Additionally, during the COVID-19 epidemic, it supported research into online learning systems and the development of speaking English as a second language. Blackboard's accessibility and interactive tools make it a valuable asset for students looking to improve their speaking abilities.