CHALLENGES OF TEACHING ENGLISH ONLINE DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI REGION SCHOOLS)

The article deals with the problems created during the online learning of English during the Covid 19 pandemic in Georgia. The reasarch was conducted with English language teachers in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The article discusses all the joint steps taken by the Government of Georgia and the Ministry of Education that have become necessary. Among them is a remarkable project such as "Teleskola". The report highlights the ongoing processes in the world during the pandemic. We also talk about the experience of many countries around the world when they had to "switch to emergency distance learning" with the closure of schools. The study identifies all the challenges and issues faced by English language teachers in Samtskhe-Javakheti. In addition to the fact that the region is multiethnic, it is noteworthy that teachers from both urban and rural minority schools participated in the study. The results of the challenges arising during the online English language teaching in Samtskhe-Javakheti schools are presented in details. All indicators are calculated as a percentage with statistical accuracy. The aim of the survey is to show what challenges English language teachers faced in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region (Georgia) during the pandemic (2020-2021 school year), the methods and strategies they used in their online teaching, and their experiences that helped them to overcome their difficulties. Teaching languages during a pandemic requires teachers' creativity as students in the 21st century need to be critical thinkers, creative, sociable, collaborative, tolerant. To achieve this, * ORCID: 0000-0002-6251-8089, Janova, G. Prof. Dr. Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, Akhaltsikhe, Georgia; gulikojanova1952@gmail.com ** ORCID: 0000-00020691-6592, Murvanidze M., Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, Akhaltsikhe, Georgia; murvanidzemaka1@gmail.com Challenges Of Teaching English Online During the Covid -19 Pandemic 35 a teacher must combine four key skills to teach students language and master with the 21st century skills. The article also includes some basic tips that a teacher can follow when creating an "emergency distance learning". The current situation has shown us that neither the state nor the teacher should stop thinking, caring and planning the learning process. An online teaching format cannot completely change the benefits of face-to-face teaching, however, a better-prepared teacher's lesson is a prerequisite for a better day.