Challaenges faced by basic level English teachers in teaching reading skills

Abstract

This is a study on ‘Challenges Faced by Basic Level English Teachers in Teaching Reading Skills’ It aims to explores the difficulties faced by English teachers at the basic level in teaching reading skills, as well as the possible ways they adopted to overcome the challenges. A qualitative research design was employed, and interview guidelines were used as a research tool to collect the data. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted thematically. The study revealed several challenges faced by English teachers, which were categorized into institutional and student related factors. Institutional challenges included large class sizes, insufficient teaching materials, limited access to modern technology, and inadequate time allocated for teaching. On the student side, challenges involved teaching mixed-ability classes, low student motivation and engagement, the diverse backgrounds of students, and gaps in students' foundational skills. The research also identified possible ways to overcome these challenges. Institutional solutions included the provision of teacher training programs, adequate teaching time, access to modern technology, and sufficient teaching materials. At the teacher level, effective strategies included the use of student-centered activities, a variety of teaching materials, continuous assessment methods, and making connections between lessons and students’ contexts. Additionally, teachers were encouraged to focus on motivating students, avoid the Grammar-Translation (GT) method, and prioritize the development of students' foundational skills. This study highlights the complex nature of teaching reading skills at the basic level and underscores the importance of both institutional support and teacher strategies in addressing these challenges. The thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter includes the background of the study, the statement of the problem, objectives of the study with research questions, significance of the study, delimitation of the study, and operational definition of the key terms. Likewise, the second chapter involves the review of related literature including conceptual, theoretical, and empirical review along with conceptual framework of the study. In the same manner, the third chapter constitutes the research methodology used in this research study. The fourth chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation of the data and the last fifth chapter presents the summary of the findings, discussion, conclusion, and the implications of the study followed by references and appendices.