Challenges of classroom management: Recommendations for Novice EFL Teachers

Abstract

Research has shown that classroom management and positive learning are intricately linked. Indeed, learners cannot achieve better results in a negative, chaotic classroom environment. Therefore, teachers are required to deliver instruction effectively, as classroom management strategies are mandatory. Indeed, instruction and management should take place simultaneously. Some factors that lead to effective classroom management include the teacher’s competence, teaching methodologies, selected teaching materials, and learners’ abilities and interests. Furthermore, novice teachers consistently consider classroom management their major challenge. They complain about talkative and disruptive learners,who harass their peers, who repeatedly come late, who are disengaged, and who are openly defiant. It is a matter of fact that such problems cause anxiety, take up much of instructional time, and lead teachers to feel frustrated and burned out. Many novice teachers blame their university preparation programs, as they consider them too theoretical and insufficient. The aim of this research is to investigate the classroom management problems that face neophyte teachers. It explores the strategies that they use to overcome these problems. Moreover, this paper highlights the most important strategies to enhance novice teachers’ classroom management skills. It illustrates a review of classroom management aspects and provides helpful recommendations for neophyte teachers. Therefore, a case study was conducted in a middle school and a secondary school. An interview was conducted with novice English language teachers. The results showed that novice teachers face multiple obstacles in classroom management, including distractions and disruptive behaviors. They use different techniques to face learners’ misbehavior, some of which are effective. Moreover, the results showed that neophyte teachers need pre-service and in-service training to address classroom management problems.

Keywords: Challenges; Classroom management; English language; novice teachers; Recommendations; Strategies