Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

A Systematic Review of Teaching English in Rural Settings: Challenges and Solutions

Law Woon Shan, Azlina Abdul Aziz

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i6/14233

Open access

Teaching English Language is deemed challenging and arduous for English Language teachers, particularly when it is done in rural settings where students have minimal English Language exposure. The paper presents a systematic review of the challenges encountered by English Language teachers in teaching English in rural settings and the solutions to overcome the challenges. The findings reveal a myriad of issues and challenges in teaching English in rural settings which have thwarted the development of English Language education in rural settings. The lack of qualified English Language teachers, inadequate facilities, infrastructure and teaching materials, students’ limited competence in English and their negative attitudes towards learning English as well as the lack of parental support are the identified challenges confronted by English Language teachers in teaching English in rural settings. Several pragmatic solutions are suggested to overcome the aforementioned challenges such as to provide proper trainings for English Language teachers, foster positive attitudes towards teaching English among English Language teachers, improve and upgrade the facilities, infrastructure and teaching aids as well as to promote effective communication between parents and teachers. The limitations of the past studies and the recommendations for the future research are also discussed.

Aziz, A. A. A., Swanto, S., & Azhar, S. B. H. J. (2019). Coping with stress: Exploring the lived experiences of English teachers who persist in Malaysian rural schools. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(3), 506–514. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i3.15249
Cheng, L., Yunus, M., & Mohamad, M. (2016). Issues Contributing To Low Performance of English in a National School in Song, Sarawak. Proceedings of The ICECRS, 1(1), 499–510. https://doi.org/10.21070/picecrs.v1i1.519
Coady, M. R. (2019). “They Just Don’t Know Who We Are”: Rural English Learner Teacher Education. The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, January, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118784235.eelt0979
Dasaradhi, K., Kumari, D. P., & Rajeswari, C. S. R. (2016). Teaching English in Rural Schools - A Challenging Task. International Journal of English Language, Literature and Humanities, 4(12), 473–480.
Endriyati, Prabowo, Abasa, & Akmal. (2019). Challenges in teaching english at rural and urban schools and their solutions. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(10), 3406–3410.
Febriana, M., Nurkamto, J., Rochsantiningsih, D., & Muhtia, A. (2018). Teaching in Rural Indonesian Schools: Teachers’ Challenges. International Journal of Language Teaching and Education, 2(2), 87–96. https://doi.org/10.22437/ijolte.v2i2.5002
Halik, A., & Nusrath, R. (2020). Challenges Faced by ESL Teachers in Teaching English to the Students in Rural Schools: A Study Based on Five Rural Schools in the Kinniya Education Zone, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP), 10(11), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.29322/ijsrp.10.11.2020.p10744
Han, T., & Mahzoun, Z. (2021). Demotivating Factors on Foreign EFL Teachers: A Case Study in Private School in Turkey. Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, 21(1), 107–115. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1296271&site=ehost-live%0Ahttps://readingmatrix.com/files/24-8042rs33.pdf
Hossain, M. (2016). English Language Teaching in Rural Areas: A Scenario and Problems and Prospects in Context of Bangladesh. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.1
Izquierdo, J., Zuniga, S. P. A., & Garcia, V. (2021). Foreign language education in rural schools: Struggles and initiatives among generalist teachers teaching english in Mexico. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 11(1), 133–156.
https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2021.11.1.6
Khalid, F. S. (2017). Exploring English Language Teachers’ Challenges and Coping Strategies in Teaching Slow Learners in Inclusive Education Programmes. Iium Journal of Educational Studies, 5(2), 39–53.
Khan, K. S., Kunz, R., Kleijnen, J., & Antes, G. (2003). Five steps to conducting a systematic review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96(3), 118–121.
https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.96.3.118
Khulel, B. (2021). Teaching English for Young Learners in Rustic Area: Teachers’ Challenges. | Lingua |, 17(2), 115–130. https://doi.org/10.34005/lingua.v
Kuwat, K., & Ghozali, I. (2018). Teaching English to the Elementary School Students in Kutoarjo District. Journal of English Language and Pedagogy, 1(1), 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.36597/jelp.v1i1.2797
Lekli, L., & Kaloti, E. (2015). Building Parent-Teacher Partnerships as an Effective Means of Fostering Pupils’ Success. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 4(1), 39–40. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v4n1s1p101
Ler, E. C. (2012). Cultutal Factors Affecting English Proficiency in Rurl Areas. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 3(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.3n.1p.1
Martiana, N. (2019). Challenges of Teaching English with Its Four Language Skills in a Rural School of West Kalimantan. 1937(October).
Marwan, A., Sumintono, B. & Mislan, N. (2008). Revitalizing Rural Schools: A Challenge for Malaysia. Educational Issues, Research and Policies, 171–188.
Masturi, S. Z., Kosnin, A. binti M., & Zainudin, N. F. binti. (2022). The Barriers in Teaching English Skilla Encountered by Rural-area Preschool Teachers: A Preliminary Study. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(2), 4696–4703.
Mat, S. S. C., & Yunus, M. M. (2014). Attitudes and Motivation Towards Learning English among FELDA School Students. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 8(5), 1–8. http://ajbasweb.com/old/ajbas/2014/Special 2/1-8.pdf
Milon, R. K. (2016). Challenges of Teaching English at the Rural Primary Schools in Bangladesh: Some Recommendations. ELK Asia Pacific Journal of Social Science, 2(3). http://doi.org/10.16962/EAPJSS/issn.2394-9392/2014
Musa, N. C., Lie, K. Y., & Azman, H. (2012). Exploring English language learning and teaching in Malaysia. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 12(1), 35–51.
Omodan, B. I. (2020). The vindication of decoloniality and the reality of COVID-19 as an emergency of unknown in rural universities. International Journal of Sociology of Education, 2020(Special Issue), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.17583/RISE.2020.5495
Paul, M. M., & Kumari, D. R. (2017). Physical conditions of a classroom–Dynamic elements promoting mental health and conducive learning in students. International Journal of Applied Social Science, 4(September), 211–215.
Saiful, J. A., & Triyono, S. (2018). EFL teachers’ reflection in teaching english to efl students of rural areas. International Journal of Language Education, 2(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v2i2.5637
Salahuddin, A., Rabbani, M. G., & Rahman, A. (2013). Challanges of Implementing English Curriculum at Rural Primary Schools of Bangladesh. The International Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 7 N(January), 34–51.
Belatrech, S-K. H. (2018). Novice EFL Teachers’ Challenges in Mostaganem Rural Areas. Social Sciences, 7(3), 125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180703.13
Shahnaz, M., & Gandana, I. S. S. (2021). Teaching English in a Rural School: How the Pandemic Affects Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices. 546(Conaplin 2020), 334–340.
Sharmin, M. (2019). Teaching English in Rural schools?: A Case Study of Three Primary Schools in Bangladesh. BRAC University, April, 65.
Zefran, M. (2020). Perceived Importance of English and Its Connection to Learning Motivation Perceived Importance of English and Its Connection to Learning Motivation and Foreign Language Anxiety. December. https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-36-8.77-93
Zulkefly, F., & Razali, A. B. (2019). Malaysian rural secondary school students’ attitudes towards learning English as a second language. International Journal of Instruction, 12(1), 1141–1156. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.12173a

In-Text Citation: (Shan & Abdul Aziz, 2022)
To Cite this Article: Shan, L. W., & Abdul Aziz, A. (2022). A Systematic Review of Teaching English in Rural Settings: Challenges and Solutions. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 12(6), 1956 – 1977.