The Status, Roles and Challenges of Teaching English Language in Ethiopia Context: the case of Selected Primary and Secondary Schools in Hawassa University Technology Village Area

Abstract

The main objectives of the study was to determine the status, roles and challenges of teaching English Language in Ethiopia Context, particularly in Selected Primary and Secondary Schools in Hawassa University Technology Village Area. The participants were English language and natural science teachers, students and school administrators. From Each secondary school, two, ten and two teachers, students and school administrators were selected respectively through random sampling. As a whole, 14 teachers, 46 students and 14 school administrators involved in the study. The research instruments employed to collect data were the questionnaire and interview. According to the results of the study, there were serious English language proficiency problems in the English teachers, students and teachers of other subjects in the area. The problems ranged from their ability of English language to their view which they were sharing to their students regarding the language. Similarly, results showed that teachers of other subjects ignore the language needs of students in content courses whenever they want to rush to cover the syllabus. When the root of the problems was discovered, there are various contributing factors such as poor capacity building activities, unavailability of opportunities to use the language except the English class. Hence, English language and other subject teachers should understand the learners’ need of English language and the challenges the face, and employ different techniques and strategies to alleviate the problems.