Teaching Capacity and Psychological Well-Being in Elementary English Education: Teachers’ Voices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29240/ef.v10i2%20November.17811Keywords:
Elementary education, language policy, elementary schools, English teachers, English educationAbstract
English will become a compulsory subject in Indonesian elementary schools in Grades 3–6 in the 2027/2028 academic year. The key to the successful implementation of compulsory elementary English education is the availability of elementary school English teachers who have adequate TEYL pedagogical knowledge and skills, English proficiency, and psychological well-being. This study investigates elementary school English teachers’ voices regarding teaching capacity and psychological well-being in elementary English education. Using a qualitative descriptive design, this study involved five elementary school English teachers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via WhatsApp voice recordings. The findings reveal four themes regarding English education at the elementary level: classroom teaching practices and challenges; teachers’ English language proficiency; elementary English teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and skills; and teachers’ psychological well-being. The study identifies the teaching capacity that needs to be considered in the implementation of English education at the elementary level. Moreover, the study highlights teachers’ voices regarding the support they need for their psychological well-being. These findings underscore the urgency of comprehensive policy support, particularly in teacher education, to ensure the optimal implementation of compulsory English education at the elementary level in Indonesia.
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