Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions on English Teaching in Cirebon

Sri Hastuti

doi:10.24235/eltecho.v6i1.7469

Abstract

In 2013 Curriculum , English is not explicitly mentioned as one of the subjects at the Elementary School level. Thus, the schools are not required to teach English to their students. However, some elementary schools still include English as one of the subjects and classroom teachers as an English teacher. Therefore, this research was aimed to figure out elementary school teachers’ perceptions on English teaching and school policy background in teaching English. This research used the descriptive method with questionnaires and interviews as the research instruments. The respondents of this research were 100 elementary schools and 11 principals. The result of the study revealed that most of the teachers assume that English is needed by elementary school students. The elementary school period is considered the best time to learn English, and they believe that English specialist teachers will be able to teach English better than the classroom teachers do. The data of interviews with 11 principals showed that 4 of 11 elementary schools still conducted English teaching and 7 schools did not implement English teaching because English is excluded from the 2013 Curriculum. All of the principals stated that the main problem of the implementation of English teaching at Elementary school was the availability of English specialist teachers.

Highlights

English is one of foreign languages in Indonesia
The language has a similar position as the other foreign languages
The English language is placed as an international language. In this globalization era, English is considered as the language that should be mastered by the young generation

Summary

Introduction

English is one of foreign languages in Indonesia. The language has a similar position as the other foreign languages. The English language is placed as an international language. In this globalization era, English is considered as the language that should be mastered by the young generation. English should have been taught from an early age. Violetta-Irene (2013) believes that at early ages, children are more enthusiastic and eager to learn a new language and its culture English should have been taught from an early age. Violetta-Irene (2013) believes that at early ages, children are more enthusiastic and eager to learn a new language and its culture

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