Strategies and Challenges in Interdisciplinary English Language Teaching at the Preschool Level: A Qualitative Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29408/veles.v7i3.24566Keywords:
Interdisciplinary-teaching, young learners, English language teaching, non-native English teacherAbstract
This study employs qualitative research methods, particularly narrative inquiry, to explore the challenges preschool teachers face in teaching English to young learners. Through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, a purposively selected and diverse group of four early childhood educators, each with varying English language proficiency and educational backgrounds, provided insights into their experiences. This research primarily investigates the strategies these teachers implement to effectively manage interdisciplinary teaching activities and to enhance student engagement with English language materials. Additionally, it examines into the enduring impacts of these instructional strategies on preschool students, as reported by the teachers. The findings are organized into three key themes: the specific challenges faced in English language instruction, the strategies developed to address these challenges, and the short- to medium-term effects observed by the teachers. These outcomes offer significant implications for educators and policymakers in the realm of early childhood education. They contribute to a deeper understanding of effective teaching practices and inform the development of curricula and pedagogical approaches that can better support English language acquisition among preschoolers.
References
Adipat, S., Laksana, K., Busayanon, K., Ausawasowan, A., & Adipat, B. (2021). Engaging students in the learning process with game-based learning: the fundamental concepts. International Journal of Technology in Education, 4(3), 542–552. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.169
Andayani, R. (2019). Engaging English student teachers in a digital storytelling project for young learners. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 243(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/243/1/012066
Ashraf, T. A. (2018). Teaching English as a foreign language in Saudi Arabia: Struggles and strategies. International Journal of English Language Education, 6(1), 133. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijele.v6i1.13148
Barni, D., Danioni, F., & Benevene, P. (2019). Teachers’ Self-Efficacy: The role of personal values and motivations for teaching. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01645
Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Gray, D. (2017). Innovations in qualitative methods. In B. Gough (Ed.), The Palgrave handbook of critical social psychology (pp. 243–266). Palgrave Macmillan/Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51018-1_13
Budianto, S., Sayidah, N., Sucipto, S., & Mustofa, A. (2022). Young learners’ preferences on using games and songs for learning english in EFL context. Education Quarterly Reviews, 5(4), 90–95. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1993.05.04.574
Cahyati, S. S., Parmawati, A., Atmawidjaja, N. S., & Siliwangi, I. (2019). Optimizing English teaching and learning process to young learners (a case study in Cimahi). Journal of Educational Experts P-ISSN, 2(2), 2614–3518.
Chetty, N. D. S., Handayani, L., Sahabudin, N. A., Ali, Z., Hamzah, N., Rahman, N. S. A., & Kasim, S. (2019). Learning styles and teaching styles determine students’ academic performances. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 8(4), 610–615.
Daif-Allah, A. S., & Aljumah, F. H. (2020). Developing the English language teaching skills of Saudi teachers of young learners. English Language Teaching, 13(3), 20. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v13n3p20
Egüz, E. (2019). Learning a second language in late adulthood: benefits and challenges. Educational Gerontology, 45(12), 701–707. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2019.1690273
Fauzi, I. (2022). Improving vocabulary through implementing song and game-based learning strategy of English for young learners. Yavana Bhasha: Journal of English Language Education, 5(1), 22–33. https://doi.org/10.25078/yb.v5i1.728
Gencer, A. S. (2022). Turkish Journal of Education. Turkish Journal of Education, 11(2), 126–142.
Ginting, D. (2021). Student engagement and factors affecting active learning in English language teaching. VELES (Voices of English Language Education Society), 5(2), 215–228. https://doi.org/10.29408/veles.v5i2.3968
Hasanah, N., & Utami, P. T. (2020). Emerging challenges of teaching English in non-native English-speaking countries: teachers’ view. English Language Teaching Educational Journal, 2(3), 112. https://doi.org/10.12928/eltej.v2i3.1134
Kumar, T., Akhter, S., Yunus, M. M., & Chamani, A. (2022). Use of music and songs as pedagogical tools in teaching English as foreign language contexts. Education Research International, 2022, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3384067
Kusumaningrum, S. R., Widiati, U., Anwar, K., & Farisia, H. (2022). Integrating the technology in teaching and learning process through digital media creation as a way to improve indonesian EYL teachers’ competence. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, Dan Pengembangan, 7(5), 197. https://doi.org/10.17977/jptpp.v7i5.15268
Librado, T. M., & Santos, N. M. B. (2020). Teaching English to Young learners in Mexico: Teachers’ perceptions about their teaching contexts. Profile Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 22(1), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.82105
Madkur, A. (2018). The non-English major lecturers speak English: The barriers encountered by adult learners. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 8(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v8i1.584
Mamat, N., Razali, A. R., Hashim, A. T., Awang, M. M., Azman, M. N. A., & Fajrie, N. (2023). A comparing key performance indicator and benchmarks of quality pre-school among the agency in Malaysia. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12(1), 505–516. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v12i1.23879
Nartiningrum, N., & Nugroho, A. (2020). Online Learning amidst Global Pandemic: EFL Students’ Challenges, Suggestions, and Needed Materials. English Franca, 4(2), 115. https://doi.org/10.29240/ef.v4i2.1494
Nufus, T. Z. (2019). Teaching English to Young Learners in Indonesia (Pros and Cons). English Language in Focus (ELIF), 1(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.24853/elif.1.1.65-70
Pertiwi, C. A. A., Mustofa, M., Ubaidillah, M. F., & Hariyanto, S. (2022). The portrait of challenges in teaching english to young learners: A case study in an indonesian islamic school. Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 7(3), 467. https://doi.org/10.21462/jeltl.v7i3.892
Pramesty, N. S., Maghfiroh, A., & Mustikawati, D. A. (2022b). Teachers’ challenges in teaching English to young learners in rural area. Al-Ishlah, 14(4), 5283–5292. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i4.1517
Rao, Z., & Yu, H. (2021). Enhancing students’ English proficiency by co-teaching between native and non-native teachers in an EFL context. Language Teaching Research, 25(5), 778–797. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168819873937
Richards, J. C. (2015). The changing face of language learning: learning beyond the classroom. RELC Journal, 46(1), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688214561621
Sperti, S. (2022). English language teaching and learning at a time of change: Young learners’ perceptions of instructional contexts. EuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages, 9(2), 17–39. https://doi.org/10.21283/2376905x.1.9.2.279
Sudarwati, E., Widiati, U., Faruq Ubaidillah, M., Prasetyoningsih, L. S. A., & Sulistiyo, U. (2022). A narrative inquiry into identity construction and classroom participation of an EFL student with a physical disability: Evidence from Indonesia. Qualitative Report, 27(6), 1534–1556. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5174
Tavakoli, P., & Hunter, A. M. (2017). Is fluency being ‘neglected’ in the classroom? Teacher understanding of fluency and related classroom practices. Language Teaching Research, 22(3), 330–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168817708462
Yildirim, R., & Orsdemir, E. (2019). Through the eyes of young EFL learners: Learning with student teachers. ELT Journal, 73(3), 316–327. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccz010
Yin, X. (2021). The interplay of EFL students’ enjoyment, hope, pride and Self-Regulation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.803476
Yunita, W., Abdullah, F., Mellan, M., Hidayati, A. N., & Ardi, H. (2022). Managing English young learners’ classroom activities through gestures: A multimodal perspective. Jurnal Obsesi : Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 6(4), 2962–2973. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v6i4.2007
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with the VELES Journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
VELES Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.