PREPARING FOR COMPULSORY: CHALLENGES IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS LOCAL CONTENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

English has long been taught as a local content subject in Indonesian elementary schools. It led to varied implementations across institutions. Starting in the 2027/2028 academic year, English will be a compulsory subject. Therefore, understanding current teaching practice is important to support the effective implementation of the new policy. The study aims to explore the challenges teachers face when teaching English as a local-content subject in Indonesian elementary schools. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed. The participants consisted of five elementary school teachers in Central Java, Indonesia. All of whom had experience teaching English as local content. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews to gain in-depth insights into their teaching practices and challenges.  The findings indicate that teachers faced several challenges, including limited English proficiency, a lack of pedagogical training in teaching young learners, and insufficient teaching resources. In addition, limited instructional time and the status of English as a local content subject often leads to low prioritization within the school curriculum. Despite these challenges, most teachers demonstrate positive attitudes toward the upcoming policy, although they express concerns about their readiness to implement it effectively. Further support in terms of professional development, adequate resources, and clear policy guidelines is necessary to ensure successful implementation.