EFL Teachers’ Challenges in Preparing Young Learners for Cambridge Speaking Tests in Language Centers in the Mekong Delta

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges that EFL teachers encounter in preparing young learners for Cambridge speaking tests in some language centers in the Mekong Delta. 53 EFL teachers from six language centers in some cities and towns across the Mekong Delta participated in the study. They answered a 25-item questionnaire on seven main difficulties faced by EFL teachers in preparing young learners for Cambridge speaking tests. The findings showed that apart from external challenges such as large class sizes, time pressure as well as a lack of teaching resources and equipment, EFL teachers are challenged by their level of English proficiency and teaching methodology. Therefore, most teachers expect to participate in training courses about how to design and implement effective tasks to motivate young learners' engagement in oral English activities. The implications of these EFL teachers’ concerns are for the administrators of language centers such as offering their teaching staff more training courses in addition to teaching materials and facilities for better preparing young learners for the Cambridge speaking tests.