INDONESIAN PRE-SERVICE ENGLISH TEACHERS’ PERCEIVED CHALLENGES IN IMPROVING ENGLISH ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Abstract
The study investigates perceived challenges that pre-service teachers (henceforth refers to PSTs) majoring in an English Education Program of a state university in the Province of Gorontalo, Indonesia, experience in improving their English oral proficiency level. Data from the PSTs were collected mainly using individual semi-structured interviews, and then corroborated with the interview results collected from several lecturers who participated voluntarily. Informed by a thematic analysis approach, the study shows that the PSTs reported three main areas of challenges; linguistic proficiency, socio-culture, and English language engagement opportunity. Recommendations seeking to assist PSTs as well as the English Education Program in anticipating such challenges are also addressed.
Moraref