Factors Affecting Chinese English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Technology Acceptance: A Qualitative Study

This article explores Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ attitudes toward technology use and the factors that influence their technology acceptance. A qualitative study was conducted with data obtained from semistructured, in-depth interviews of 14 university teachers from six provinces. The interview data revealed that Chinese EFL teachers generally maintained a positive attitude toward technology use in teaching. Facilitating conditions driven by modernization, perceived usefulness, subjective norm, and technology mania are major factors influencing their technology acceptance. It is worth noticing that the degree of reliance on technology varied in terms of age and experience. Overall, the findings were consistent with previous studies, while leading to a broader and deeper understanding of technology acceptance theories by analyzing contextual and cultural phenomenon in China. Implications for future research and suggestions to improve Continuing Professional Development were provided in order to promote technology integration among Chinese teachers.

[1]  Joyce E. Bono,et al.  Self-Concordance at Work: Toward Understanding the Motivational Effects of Transformational Leaders , 2003 .

[2]  G. Hu Potential Cultural Resistance to Pedagogical Imports: The Case of Communicative Language Teaching in China , 2002 .

[3]  Yea-Ru Tsai,et al.  Applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to Explore the Effects of a Course Management System (CMS)-Assisted EFL Writing Instruction. , 2014 .

[4]  M. Arthur,et al.  The Motivational Effects of Charismatic Leadership: A Self-Concept Based Theory , 1993 .

[5]  Guofang Li,et al.  Primary EFL Teachers’ Technology Use in China: Patterns and Perceptions , 2011 .

[6]  Mingming Zhou,et al.  Modelling Serbian pre-service teachers' attitudes towards computer use: A SEM and MIMIC approach , 2016, Comput. Educ..

[7]  Peggy A. Ertmer Addressing first- and second-order barriers to change: Strategies for technology integration , 1999 .

[8]  A. McFarlane,et al.  The Role of ICT in Science Education , 2002 .

[9]  Hao Yang,et al.  ICT in English schools: transforming education? 1 , 2012 .

[10]  Ruben Vanderlinde,et al.  Getting inside the black box of technology integration in education: Teachers' stimulated recall of classroom observations , 2013 .

[11]  Li Li Understanding language teachers' practice with educational technology: A case from China , 2014 .

[12]  Robyn Pierce,et al.  Perceptions that may affect teachers’ intention to use technology in secondary mathematics classes , 2009 .

[13]  Xiaohui Liu,et al.  Examining the moderating effect of individual-level cultural values on users’ acceptance of E-learning in developing countries: a structural equation modeling of an extended technology acceptance model , 2017, Interact. Learn. Environ..

[14]  Peggy A. Ertmer,et al.  An investigation of the factors that influence preservice teachers’ intentions and integration of Web 2.0 tools , 2016 .

[15]  Prashant Palvia,et al.  Management Information Systems Research: What's There in a Methodology? , 2003, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[16]  M. Hoepfl Choosing Qualitative Research: A Primer for Technology Education Researchers , 1997 .

[17]  Peter A. Todd,et al.  Understanding Information Technology Usage: A Test of Competing Models , 1995, Inf. Syst. Res..

[18]  C. Urquhart Grounded Theory for Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide , 2012 .

[19]  Shu Ching Yang,et al.  A study of high school English teachers' behavior, concerns and beliefs in integrating information technology into English instruction , 2008, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[20]  Shu-Chiao Tsai,et al.  Integrating English for specific purposes courseware into task-based learning in a context of preparing for international trade fairs , 2013 .

[21]  Fred D. Davis,et al.  User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models , 1989 .

[22]  Audhesh K. Paswan,et al.  Knowledge management and franchise systems , 2009 .

[23]  Johan van Braak,et al.  Predicting ICT integration into classroom teaching in Chinese primary schools: exploring the complex interplay of teacher-related variables , 2011, J. Comput. Assist. Learn..

[24]  Bin Zou Teachers' support in using computers for developing students' listening and speaking skills in pre-sessional English courses , 2013 .

[25]  F. Rogan,et al.  Improving clinical communication of students with English as a second language (ESL) using online technology: a small scale evaluation study. , 2013, Nurse education in practice.

[26]  Detmar W. Straub,et al.  Testing the technology acceptance model across cultures: A three country study , 1997, Inf. Manag..

[27]  T. Teo,et al.  Influence of gender and computer teaching efficacy on computer acceptance among Malaysian student teachers: An extended technology acceptance model , 2012 .

[28]  M. Prensky Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1 , 2001 .

[29]  Liang Wang,et al.  A survey of Internet-mediated intercultural foreign language education in China , 2009, ReCALL.

[30]  Steve Walsh,et al.  Technology uptake in Chinese EFL classes , 2011 .

[31]  Jamal Ouadahi A qualitative analysis of factors associated with user acceptance and rejection of a new workplace information system in the public sector: a conceptual model , 2008 .

[32]  Timothy Teo,et al.  The influence of teachers’ conceptions of teaching and learning on their technology acceptance , 2017, Interact. Learn. Environ..

[33]  Timothy Teo,et al.  Modelling technology acceptance in education: A study of pre-service teachers , 2009, Comput. Educ..

[34]  Rory V. O'Connor Using grounded theory coding mechanisms to analyze case study and focus group data in the context of software process research , 2012 .

[35]  Chang Zhu Organisational culture and technology-enhanced innovation in higher education , 2015 .

[36]  Gwo-Jen Hwang,et al.  Single loop or double loop learning: English vocabulary learning performance and behavior of students in situated computer games with different guiding strategies , 2016, Comput. Educ..

[37]  John Qi Dong,et al.  User acceptance of information technology innovations in the Chinese cultural context , 2009 .

[38]  Johan van Braak,et al.  ICT integration in the classroom: Challenging the potential of a school policy , 2008, Comput. Educ..

[39]  Anita R. Bowles,et al.  Technologies for foreign language learning: a review of technology types and their effectiveness , 2014 .

[40]  Zhiwen Hu,et al.  Innovation in higher education in China: are teachers ready to integrate ICT in English language teaching? , 2011 .

[41]  M. Carrasco,et al.  Learning Environments with Technological Resources: A Look at Their Contribution to Student Performance in Latin American Elementary Schools , 2012 .

[42]  J. Morse,et al.  Verification Strategies for Establishing Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research , 2002 .

[43]  Timothy Teo Influence of user characteristics on teachers’ intention to use technology: Some research evidence , 2011 .

[44]  Mark Srite,et al.  Culture as an Explanation of Technology Acceptance Differences: An Empirical Investigation of Chinese and US Users , 2006, Australas. J. Inf. Syst..

[45]  Timothy Teo,et al.  Dhammic Technology Acceptance Model (DTAM) , 2015 .

[46]  Melissa M. Groves,et al.  Instructional Technology Adoption in Higher Education: An Action Research Case Study , 2000 .

[47]  Guofang Li,et al.  Use of Technology to Support the Learning and Teaching of English in China , 2012 .

[48]  Viswanath Venkatesh,et al.  Technology Acceptance Model 3 and a Research Agenda on Interventions , 2008, Decis. Sci..

[49]  Ozlem Baydas,et al.  Influential factors on preservice teachers' intentions to use ICT in future lessons , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[50]  N. Ashkanasy,et al.  The Impact of Leadership and Change Management Strategy on Organizational Culture and Individual Acceptance of Change During a Merger , 2006 .