ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ BELIEFS OF ENGLISH
TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
Rina Kristiana
Abstract
This study was aimed to analyze the elementary school teachers’ beliefs of English
teaching and learning for young learners. The research participants were 10 elementary
school English teachers in Salatiga and Getasan. The data were collected using a
semi-structure interview which allows the participants to share their thought and experiences in
English teaching and learning for young learners. The results of this study revealed that
the teachers realized the need of mastering English in today’s globalized era. They
believed that English should be learned as early as childhood years. Thus, most teachers
showed positive attitudes toward the importance of English learning in elementary
school. The teachers believed that English teaching and learning should be fun. The
teachers considered about young learners’ psychological aspect, teaching approaches for
young learners, and the use of audio visual aids and authentic materials. The teachers
believed that English learning in elementary school is a necessary action to introduce the
basic knowledge of English [such as vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and daily
conversation] which accommodates young learners’ needs of English learning in junior
high school.
