Teaching Difficulties Encountered by EFL Teachers with Third year Primary Pupils: The Case of Ibn Hamidi Ali Primary School in Tlemce

Abstract

This study aims to explore the challenges faced by EFL teachers when teaching English to young learners and identify the strategies used to overcome these difficulties. The study was conducted at Ibn Hamidi Ali Primary School in Tlemcen where the researcher held an interview with a teacher in order to obtain the information needed. Besides, classroom observation was conducted to observe how English was taught in Algerian primary schools and find out more about the study in question. Based on the data analysis and discussion, the findings revealed several difficulties encountered by EFL teachers when teaching English to third-year primary pupils. The lack of attention, focus and limited vocabulary are amongst others. The results of the study suggested that teaching English to young learners required a different approach and set of strategies than teaching it to other learners, a finding that highlights the importance of creativity and flexibility in teaching, as well as the need for ongoing professional development and support for EFL teachers. Overall, this study provided valuable insights into the challenges and strategies of teaching English to young learners, which could inform the development of effective teaching practices and support for EFL teachers in primary schools.