The practices and challenges of teaching English to young learners
A case of selected primary schools in Ethiopia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22167140 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Esayas Teshome Taddese (0000-0001-8988-7311, INTI International University, corresponding author), Habtamu Adem Yassin (0000-0002-6540-7579, Wolkite University), Mitiku Tasisa Dinsa (0000-0002-0112-9231, Wolkite University), Anteneh Kebede Lakew (0000-0001-6270-1476, Wolkite University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-10 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2504-284X • E-ISSN: 2504-284X |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/feduc.2025.1656387 |
| OpenAlex | W4415017447 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
The teaching of English to young learners requires careful consideration, as early childhood is a crucial period for acquiring a second or foreign language. In Ethiopia, however, research on this topic has been limited, with most studies focusing on secondary and tertiary education. This study, therefore, sought to examine the instructional practices of EFL teachers in relation to five widely recommended principles for teaching English to young learners, namely focusing on language use, incorporating enjoyable and varied classroom activities, integrating songs, stories, rhymes, games, and drama, utilizing objects, pictures, and actions, and establishing classroom routines. A descriptive case study design was employed, involving English teachers and school principals from primary schools. Data were collected through classroom observations and interviews, followed by a four-stage qualitative data analysis method involving coding, categorization, theme development, and interpretation. The findings revealed a significant gap between teachers’ instructional practices and the principles of effective English language teaching for young learners. While teachers demonstrated some awareness of students’ needs, their methods were largely shaped by contextual challenges and a lack of specialized training in young learner pedagogies. Addressing these gaps will require a comprehensive approach, including teacher training, improved resources, and policy reforms to foster an environment conducive to effective English instruction for young learners
English as a foreign language · English language · Foreign language · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Teaching english · Teaching method · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Multilingual Education and Policy · Second Language Learning and Teaching
Lingua Franca and Language of Wider Communication
Teaching Languages to Young Learners
Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching
Denzin’s Paradigm Shift
Case Study Research
A review of classroom environment on student engagement in English as a foreign language learning
The Role of Growth Mindset on the Relationships between Students’ Perceptions of English Language Teachers’ Feedback and Their ESL Learning Performance
The Effects of Teacher-Centered and Student-Centered Approaches in Toeic Reading Instruction
The Effectiveness of Total Physical Response (TPR) on Teaching English to Young Learners
Sociological Methods
Exploring the Role of Translation in Communicative Language Teaching or the Communicative Approach
Communicative and task-based language teaching in East Asian classrooms
Challenges in Teaching English to Young Learners
| Highly cited | No |
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