CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES OF TEACHING ENGLISH IN RURAL AREA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (BATUATAS ISLAND SOUTHEAST SULAWESI)

Wisnawati, 2025. Challenges and Strategies of Teaching English in Rural Area Junior High School (Batuatas Island Southeast Sulawesi). Thesis. English Education Department, Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo. Advisors: (1) Dr. Elok Putri Nimasari, M.Pd (2) Siti Asiyah, M.Pd.

Keywords: Challenges, Strategies, Teaching English, Rural area

This study aims at identifying the challenges teachers faced in teaching English and analyzing the strategies that can be implemented to overcome these challenges. The research employs a case study design with a descriptive qualitative approach, based on Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, utilizing observations and structured interviews as data collection techniques. The location of this study was at two Junior High Schools on Batuatas Island, Southeast Sulawesi. The research participants consisted of four English teachers, namely two teachers from SMP Negeri 1 Batuatas and two teachers from SMP Negeri 2 Batuatas.
The findings show that there are still many challenges faced by teachers at Batuatas Island Junior High School, especially in rural areas. Some of the challenges faced by teachers in teaching English include limited vocabulary, lack of support from family environment and low motivation of students, dominance of local language and Indonesian language, independent curriculum is not suitable for schools in rural areas, not having basic English, limited access and media learning resources. Finally, to overcome these challenges the teachers apply several strategies which include paired dialogue practice strategies, basic English learning strategies, teacher-centered strategies, i.e. lectures, cognitive memory strategies with picture media, hands-on practice strategies using games, vocabulary learning strategies through dictionaries. This study contributes to (1) improve teachers' understanding of the importance of adapting English teaching methods to the local context, and (2) provide students with insights into the challenges of learning English, which can encourage them to be more active and motivated in the learning process.