Teachers’ and Students’ Perception on Using Blended Learning and Challenges Faced During Pandemic Era in Pondok Pesantren Darul Makmur Baso and SMA N 1 Ampek Angkek Senior High Schools in EFL Classroom

The importance of Blended Learning has been emphasized during the current restriction caused by the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). This research aims to find out the teachers’ and students’ perceptions of using Blended Learning in senior high schools in EFL classrooms and the challenges faced by teachers. In this descriptive research, three teachers and eighty-three students were as the source of the data of this study chosen by using the proportional random sampling technique. This research involved two schools which applied the same modes of interaction synchronously and asynchronously. Asynchronous interaction happened in Google classroom and WhatsApp while synchronous interaction was conducted in real class or face-to-face learning. The findings showed that the students and the teachers have a positive perception of using Blended Learning in the EFL classrooms. The total score of the teachers’ perception was 76% and the student's perception was 72% interpreted as positive. It means that they enjoy learning when the teachers used the Blended Learning method. Obviously, they got some benefits from the method. One of them was the students become more active, interested, focus, manage time and responsible for learning. Finally, the challenges faced by the teachers were technology, innovation in learning, instruction, and interaction.