Examining Teachers’ Communicative Interactions During Covid-19: Message Content, Client Response, Sector Challenges, and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

Teachers were one of the frontline workers ensuring the continuation of delivering quality education to the students during covid-19 pandemic. This unprecedented event gave challenges that impacted the educational sector in the country. It also forced the educational leaders to adopt to the new normal education system, thus, this study aimed to explore the teachers’ communicative interactions during the crisis.This study utilized qualitative approach using a descriptive phenomenology design. Using purposive sampling, the researcher also chose the participants and conducted in-depth interview based on its representation such as elementary, high school, and college teachers. In analyzing the qualitative data, the researcher used the reflexive thematic analysis that guided by the different interpersonal theories.The data were saturated into three (3) participants of the study representing elementary, high school, and college teacher. Results showed that teachers focus their contents on the work-related works and in relation to their family members. Teachers extend their patience and understanding in dealing with the students and their parents. More so, they faced a lot of challenges in work and in their respective family members. However, teachers had their own coping mechanisms to address those challenges.Thus, given the challenges faced by teachers both at work and in their family lives, it is essential that professional development programs for teachers include strategies for enhancing interactive communication and resilience.