EFL Teachers' Challenges and Strategies in Managing Their ELT Classroom

Abstract

Classroom management plays a vital role in the learning process. Teachers act as managers in the classroom. This means that, in addition to delivering the materials, they manage the class to ensure that learning activities can take place effectively. However, teachers face challenges in managing the classroom, and to overcome these, they must have effective classroom management strategies. This study aims to identify the challenges faced by certified English teachers and the strategies they employ to address the challenges. This study employed a qualitative design. The data were gathered through a combination of observations and interviews, then analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of this study show that the three main themes of challenges faced by teachers in delivering lessons are managing space and time, managing students’ behaviour, and managing instructional strategies. The greatest obstacles include limited options for classroom layout, behaviour that disrupts learning, and difficulties in managing differences in students’ abilities. To address these challenges, this study identifies five strategic themes: physical design classroom, rules and routines, relationships, engaging in motivational and instruction, and discipline.