Challenges Faced by English Language Teachers in Fiji: A Case Study of Selected High Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to fill the void in the existing literature and investigate the types of challenges faced by the English as Second Language (ESL) teachers in Fiji. The participants of the study were twenty English language teachers, who were purposefully chosen from High Schools within Suva, Fiji.  The study implements mixed method design with the intention of incorporating qualitative and quantitative research methods in the data collection and analysis. Hutter-Hennink qualitative research cycle is used, and data is collated using semi-structured interviews, which uses a mixture of both open and closed-ended questions. Further, the paper conducts quantitative technique using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 5 (strongly agree) to 1 (strongly disagree) to gather the finer points of the challenges faced by English Language teachers teaching in Fijian schools. More so, this research will apply the Communicative Language Teaching Theory (CLTT), as the communicative competency of the high school students are developed in second language. The findings of the research revealed massive challenges, together with repertoire of solutions the participants suggested to overcome them.