Distance Education Research in EFL Teaching in China from 2012 to 2018

This paper examines the research trends in EFL distance education in China from 2012-2018. To gain a panoramic perspective on how information and communication technology are used in foreign language teaching, 157 papers from Computer-Assisted Foreign Language Education, the only prominent journal connecting distance education and foreign language teaching in China, were examined following Zawacki-Richter's classification framework. Content analyses were performed on distance education formats, research areas and research designs to identify the research trends and then point to the direction of future research. Research findings indicate that English teachers in China show special attention to blended learning and flipped classroom; they focus on research areas like instructional design and learners characteristics and tend to use empirical research design. However, the volume of distance education research remains small, indicating that it is still a marginalized research topic in EFL teaching. This paper contributes to the professionalism of the distance education research in EFL setting in China and proposes suggestions on forwarding this line of research.