Abstract:

The current study aimed to investigate the problems of English language teaching in Turkey from the perspectives of pre-service English language teachers. For this aim, qualitative data were collected from fifteen 4th year pre-service language teachers. Open-ended questions, individual interviews and group discussions were used in the data collection process. Based on the content analysis technique, themes and categories were formed. According to the participants, there are problems with teacher education program, teachers, learners, assessment, curriculum, and context in English language teaching in Turkey. Excessive number of education faculties and teacher candidates, no standardization among ELT departments, divergence between theory and practice, insufficient teaching practicum, absence of assessing communicative skills in YKS, unvaried assessment tools, washback effect, test anxiety, course hours, inflexible curriculum, lack of extracurricular activities, inappropriate course books, non-communicative activities, high amount of L1 use, lack of teacher autonomy, demotivation, unwillingness, fear of making mistakes and anxiety, lack of interaction, lack of self-confidence, discipline issues, crowded classes, inadequate physical and technological resources, and audit gap were among some of the problems of English language teaching in Turkey. The findings were discussed in line with the previous findings and educational implications were offered.

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