Challenges Encountered by Student Teachers in Teaching English Language during Teaching Practice in East London, South Africa

An integral component of teacher education, training and preparation is teaching practice. It affords student teachers experience in the actual teaching and learning environment. The major focus of teaching practice is for teachers to bring theories and ideas developed about teaching into practice in actual classroom settings. This qualitative study investigated the challenges encountered in the teaching of English language during the teaching practice by the student teachers. The study examines some challenges faced by student teachers during their professional teaching practice, these include among others; school placement, resources, learners discipline and classroom management, supervision and support, and observations. It further employs reflectivity approach by considering the student teachers' reflections after their lessons. Four questions were posed as a guide to the reflections written by the student teachers. The data was thus analyzed through the use of content analysis and the findings suggested an exposure of the student teachers to a learning environment in which they can contextualise the theoretical knowledge they gathered during their training. The study therefore recommends that students should have a multiple pre-service training before they complete the program.