Methods and Current Challenges in Teaching English: A Case in Bawku Municipality

ABSTRACT 

The study investigated the methods as well as the challenges of teaching English as a second language in the Bawku Municipality. The objectives of the study were to examine the methods of teaching English Language, to examine the challenges to effective teaching and learning of English language in the Municipality, and to examine measures of improving teaching and learning of English language in the Bawku Municipality. The study adopted the qualitative design, using questionnaire, observation and interviews to obtain data from 200 teachers who were randomly sampled. The findings revealed that teachers lack the knowledge of the methods of teaching English. Most teachers adopted the Grammar-Translation method in teaching and none employed the Communicative Language Teaching Approach. The findings further indicated that lack multimedia resources, first language interference, inadequate pedagogical and content knowledge of teachers and lack of in-service training as challenges in teaching English. Other challenges also identified were lack of textbooks available for teaching, teachers’ poor pedagogical and content knowledge of the English language, and large class sizes. To improve the teaching and learning of English, measures such as the provision of in-service training to teachers, motivation of teachers, provision of infrastructure, ensuring equal pupils and teachers’ ratio in the class, provision of learning materials, and intensification of supervision were suggested. Further measures include mixing the mother tongue and English in the introductory classes, exposing students to lots of words and books, and integration of the four skills. Based on the results, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, and relevant stakeholders in the educational sector should provide in-service training for teachers of English to improve their skills. Adequate teaching and learning materials should also be made available together with adequate classrooms in order to put an end to the problem of overcrowded classrooms.