Navigating Turkish EFL Teachers’ Perceived Challenges with Very Young Learners
Yıl 2024,
Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1, 37 - 50, 11.06.2024
Gizem Rojda Yıldız
Merve Savaşçı
Öz
This study sought to investigate teachers’ perceived challenges in teaching
English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) to very young learners
(VYLs) (2 to 6 years-old pre-schoolers) in Türkiye, with a two-fold aim: 1)
to explore the challenges that EFL teachers experience in teaching VYLs,
and 2) to investigate whether there is a significant difference in the challenges
they encounter regarding their gender and years of teaching experience. The
participants were Turkish EFL teachers (N= 35) teaching English to VYLs
in preschools. A mixed method convergent research design was adopted
within the scope of the study: Quantitative data were collected by a Likert
Scale Questionnaire, while qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured
interviews. The data elicited via the questionnaire were analyzed through
descriptive statistics and a Mann-Whitney U Test using SPSS, and the data
gathered from the interview were analyzed by inductive content analysis.
Several challenges emerged, and findings revealed that teachers mostly
encounter challenges in managing the classroom and involving students in
teaching English to VYLs. However, findings did not illustrate a statistically
significant difference in the challenges teachers face regarding their gender
or years of teaching experience. Exploring these challenges can help teachers
and other stakeholders understand the potential problems in teaching
English to VYLs and help improve their instructional practices accordingly.
The article concludes with suggestions for further research.
Etik Beyan
Bu araştırma etik değerlere bağlı kalınarak gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Teşekkür
Bu çalışmaya katkı sağlayan katılımcılara teşekkür ederiz.
Kaynakça
- Akçor, G., & Savaşçı, M. (2020). A review of challenges and recommendations for novice EFL
teachers in Turkey. Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language), 14(2), 16-37.
- Broughton, G., Brumfit, C., Pincas, A., & Wilde, R. D. (2002). Teaching English as a foreign language.
Routledge.
- Butler, Y. G. (2015). English language education among young learners in East Asia: A review of
current research (2004–2014). Language Teaching, 48(3), 303-342.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444815000105
- Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press.
- Cameron, L. (2003). Challenges for ELT from the expansion in teaching children. ELT Journal,
57(2), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/57.2.105
- Copland, F., Garton, S., & Burns, A. (2014). Challenges in teaching English to young learners:
Global perspectives and local realities. Tesol Quarterly, 48(4), 738-762. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.148
- Copland, F., & Garton, S. (2014). Key themes and future directions in teaching English to young
learners: Introduction to the special issue. ELT Journal, 68(3), 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccu030
- Degirmenci-Uysal, N., & Yavuz, F. (2015). Teaching English to very young learners. Procedia-Social
and Behavioral Sciences, 197, 19-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.042
- Ellis, G. (2014). “Young learners”: Clarifying our terms. ELT Journal, 68(1), 75–78.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct062
- Inostroza Araos, M. J. (2015). Examining challenges and complexities in the Chilean young learners classroom: A case of teaching English as a foreign language [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Sheffield.
- Keskin, P. (2019). Challenges faced by English language teachers in teaching English to young learners in public primary schools [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Yeditepe University.
- Khulel, B. (2021). Teaching English for young learners in rural area: Teachers’ challenges. Lingua,
17(2), 115-130. https://doi.org/10.34005/lingua.v17i2.1558
- Kusmaryati, S. E. (2020). Teachers’ perspectives of teaching English to young learners (A descriptive study at primary schools in Kudus). ELT Worldwide: Journal of English Language
Teaching, 7(2), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.26858/eltww.v7i2.9723
- Malik, H., Humaira, M. A., Komari, A. N., Fathurrochman, I., & Jayanto, I. (2021). Identification
of barriers and challenges to teaching English at an early age in Indonesia: An international publication
analysis study. Linguistics and Culture Review, 5(1), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.21744/lingcure.v5n1.1485
- Masnan, A. H., & Ngajib, S. H. M. (2016). Teacher’s challenges of teaching English in kindergarten
in Kampot, Cambodia. Australian Journal of Basics and Applied Sciences, 10(11), 199-206.
- McKay, P. (2006). Assessing young language learners. Cambridge University Press.
- Moore, R. J. L. (2010). Utah kindergarten teachers’ challenges and concerns about teaching kindergarten.
[Unpublished master’s thesis]. Utah State University.
- Nguyen, C. D. (2018). The construction of age-appropriate pedagogies for young learners of
English in primary schools. The Language Learning Journal, 49(1), 13-26.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2018.1451912
- Pavlenko, A., & Piller, I. (2008). Language education and gender. Encyclopedia of Language and
Education, 1, 57-69.
- Pertiwi, R. S., Salabiyati, I., Damara, D., Pratolo, B., & Dahlan, U. A. (2020). The teacher’s
perspectives about challenges of teaching English for young learners: A case study at English
course for young learners. Atlantis Press Journal, 397, 65-74.
https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200129.009
- Piaget, J. (1970). The science of education and the psychology of the child. (D. Coltman, Trans.). Orion.
Seidlhofer, B. (2005). English as a lingua franca. ELT Journal, 59(4), 339-341.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci064
- Vygotsky, L. (1962). Thought and language. MIT Press.
- Widodo, A., & Dewi, S. R. (2019). Revealing problems on teaching English for young learners at
Al–Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta and how to solve them. Journal Varidika,
30(2), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.23917/varidika.v30i2.7571
Yıl 2024,
Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1, 37 - 50, 11.06.2024
Gizem Rojda Yıldız
Merve Savaşçı
Kaynakça
- Akçor, G., & Savaşçı, M. (2020). A review of challenges and recommendations for novice EFL
teachers in Turkey. Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language), 14(2), 16-37.
- Broughton, G., Brumfit, C., Pincas, A., & Wilde, R. D. (2002). Teaching English as a foreign language.
Routledge.
- Butler, Y. G. (2015). English language education among young learners in East Asia: A review of
current research (2004–2014). Language Teaching, 48(3), 303-342.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444815000105
- Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Cambridge University Press.
- Cameron, L. (2003). Challenges for ELT from the expansion in teaching children. ELT Journal,
57(2), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/57.2.105
- Copland, F., Garton, S., & Burns, A. (2014). Challenges in teaching English to young learners:
Global perspectives and local realities. Tesol Quarterly, 48(4), 738-762. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.148
- Copland, F., & Garton, S. (2014). Key themes and future directions in teaching English to young
learners: Introduction to the special issue. ELT Journal, 68(3), 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccu030
- Degirmenci-Uysal, N., & Yavuz, F. (2015). Teaching English to very young learners. Procedia-Social
and Behavioral Sciences, 197, 19-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.042
- Ellis, G. (2014). “Young learners”: Clarifying our terms. ELT Journal, 68(1), 75–78.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct062
- Inostroza Araos, M. J. (2015). Examining challenges and complexities in the Chilean young learners classroom: A case of teaching English as a foreign language [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Sheffield.
- Keskin, P. (2019). Challenges faced by English language teachers in teaching English to young learners in public primary schools [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Yeditepe University.
- Khulel, B. (2021). Teaching English for young learners in rural area: Teachers’ challenges. Lingua,
17(2), 115-130. https://doi.org/10.34005/lingua.v17i2.1558
- Kusmaryati, S. E. (2020). Teachers’ perspectives of teaching English to young learners (A descriptive study at primary schools in Kudus). ELT Worldwide: Journal of English Language
Teaching, 7(2), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.26858/eltww.v7i2.9723
- Malik, H., Humaira, M. A., Komari, A. N., Fathurrochman, I., & Jayanto, I. (2021). Identification
of barriers and challenges to teaching English at an early age in Indonesia: An international publication
analysis study. Linguistics and Culture Review, 5(1), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.21744/lingcure.v5n1.1485
- Masnan, A. H., & Ngajib, S. H. M. (2016). Teacher’s challenges of teaching English in kindergarten
in Kampot, Cambodia. Australian Journal of Basics and Applied Sciences, 10(11), 199-206.
- McKay, P. (2006). Assessing young language learners. Cambridge University Press.
- Moore, R. J. L. (2010). Utah kindergarten teachers’ challenges and concerns about teaching kindergarten.
[Unpublished master’s thesis]. Utah State University.
- Nguyen, C. D. (2018). The construction of age-appropriate pedagogies for young learners of
English in primary schools. The Language Learning Journal, 49(1), 13-26.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2018.1451912
- Pavlenko, A., & Piller, I. (2008). Language education and gender. Encyclopedia of Language and
Education, 1, 57-69.
- Pertiwi, R. S., Salabiyati, I., Damara, D., Pratolo, B., & Dahlan, U. A. (2020). The teacher’s
perspectives about challenges of teaching English for young learners: A case study at English
course for young learners. Atlantis Press Journal, 397, 65-74.
https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200129.009
- Piaget, J. (1970). The science of education and the psychology of the child. (D. Coltman, Trans.). Orion.
Seidlhofer, B. (2005). English as a lingua franca. ELT Journal, 59(4), 339-341.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci064
- Vygotsky, L. (1962). Thought and language. MIT Press.
- Widodo, A., & Dewi, S. R. (2019). Revealing problems on teaching English for young learners at
Al–Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta and how to solve them. Journal Varidika,
30(2), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.23917/varidika.v30i2.7571