Tabtim is in her first year of studies at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University where she is studying in an online bachelor’s degree in English program. She works as a sales representative in a pharmaceutical company and thinks that it is a good idea to work and earn a bachelor’s degree side-by-side.
Actually, she does not have to use English in her work at all, but she loves to learn it. She really enjoyed listening to English teachers’ lectures and answering grammatical questions when she was at school. She also liked to do pair work and group work in an English class where she could interact with her classmates.
Tabtim is not shy, so it is easy for her to meet new people and talk with them. She has always had many friends in school. She enjoys meeting her friends after class and going shopping or out for dinner. Her past studies were in a face-to-face educational environment, so distance learning is new to her. Tabtim is unsure about her academic or career goals, but she enjoys being a student because she thinks it is fun.
After one semester in this online program, she finds that it is not what she expected. She feels lonely and bored because she has to study by herself. She misses the classroom environment where a teacher tells students what they need to know and to do at a certain time. She is questioning whether learning in a distance mode is the right environment for her and whether she should drop out.