Teachers' Challenges and Strategies in Teaching English to Young Learners: Case Study in Elementary School

Abstract

Teaching English in elementary schools requires the appropriate strategies to enhance the effectiveness of learning. However, before implementing these strategies, teachers inevitably face challenges in the classroom, as experienced by four teachers at one of public elementary schools in Boyolali regency, Central Java. This study aims to examine the challenges and strategies taken by teachers to encounter in teaching English in elementary school in Boyolali regency based on teachers’ experiences. This study used case study research design to analyze the challenges faced by teachers and strategies taken by teachers to overcome the challenges. The data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, and documentation of students’ worksheets. The findings show that teachers faced four main challenges: 1) teachers’ educational background, 2) limited time allocation, 3 students’ condition in lower primary classrooms (year 1 and 2), and 4) lack of teacher training. To overcome these challenges, teachers apply four strategies, namely 1) teachers study independently before teaching, 2) teachers review the materials before continuing to new topics, 3) teachers use simple teaching methods, and 4) teachers use learning media to support teaching.