Remote Professional Development via WhatsApp: A Case Study of EFL Teachers in West Africa

Résumé

Abstract - This study examines WhatsApp access, use, and outcomes for teachers of
English professional education in Benin Republic, West Africa. We sent a
questionnaire to three hundred (300) EFL teachers and randomly interviewed
twenty (20) participant teachers. The results reveal many challenges and
opportunities in using WhatApp for participants’ professional development. Some
of the challenges are lack of internet connectivity and its cost, information storage,
enrollment limitation, indiscipline, irrelevant contents, off-topic issues, and digital
literacy. The researcher suggests a series of workshops to sensitise and train teachers
on the use of WhatsApp chats for professional development and the involvement of
governmental bodies to provide significant levels of support to reduce connectivity
cost for educational purposes.
Keywords: EFL, WhatsApp, Professional Development, Digital Literacy