An Investigation into The Current Situation of Teaching English to Young Learners in Thai Nguyen Province: Issues relating to Teacher Education, Teaching Techniques, Teaching Materials, and Teaching & Learning Conditions
Thai Nguyen University of Education, Vietnam
ABSTRACT
This study investigated into the current situation of teaching English to primary pupils at six primary schools in Thai Nguyen province. Particularly, this study aimed at finding out the problems/challenges of teaching English to primary pupils in Thai Nguyen province in terms of teacher education, teaching techniques, teaching materials, and teaching & learning conditions. Based on the findings, the researcher would like to recommend some changes in order to improve English teaching quality in primary schools in Thai Nguyen province. In order to reach the aim, this study addressed two following questions: 1) What are the problems/ challenges of teaching English to primary pupils in Thai Nguyen province in terms of teacher education, teaching techniques, teaching materials, and teaching & learning conditions? 2) What should be done to improve the quality of English teaching for pupils at primary schools in Thai Nguyen province? The participants of this study were 18 primary teachers of English at six primary schools in Thai Nguyen province. Questionnaire and observation were used to gather data in this study. The findings indicated that most of the teacher had to face with difficulties in using English language at class, understanding the needs/expectations of the young language learners, choosing teaching materials, and using appropriate teaching techniques. The results also revealed that the teachers should be provided more training courses of teaching English at primary schools with the hope that the quality of English teaching for pupils at primary schools in Thai Nguyen province might be improved. Also, the findings from the study indicated that the authorities in Vietnam in general and particularly in Thai Nguyen province should pay more attention to improve English teaching quality at primary schools. The results of the study gave an implication for providing the teachers with strategies for using teaching techniques and teaching materials.
KEYWORDS
young language learners, teacher education, teaching techniques