An Analysis of the Challenges and Solutions of Teaching English as a Foreign Language at the Secondary Education Level in Lembata

Abstract

Abstract : Teaching English as a foreign language in remote areas is indeed difficult, where English is only acquired and learned in junior high school as happened in Lembata - NTT. The purpose of this research is to find out the challenges faced by teachers when teaching English as a foreign language at the secondary education level in Lembata, and the solutions to solving the challenges.  This research is using descriptive qualitative methods in the form of interview and observations. The subjects of this study were 6 English teachers in 3 schools in Lembata. The results of this research including: students’ lack of vocabulary mastery, students’ low concentration,  students’ lack of discipline, and students’ boredom, lack of teacher training and professional development, teachers’ limited mastery of teaching methods, inadequate facilities and resources, and time constraints. To deal with these problems, this research also found the solutions applied by the participants to solving the challenges. Each of them has its own stratum of efforts to overcome the challenges of teaching in the classroom, such as applying various teaching methods and techniques, matching student proficiency levels and learning situations, managing classes, utilizing available resources.

Keywords : Analysis; Challenges; English Foreign Laguage; Teaching English; Secondary Education; Solutions