Classroom Management Problems and Coping Strategies of Turkish Student EFL Teachers

Abstract

Classroom management (CM) is one of the most cited problems of pre-service teachers. This study aims to have a closer look at the issue within a qualitative research design by eliciting problems, coping strategies, and the sources of those coping strategies related to CM during teaching practicum. The participants of the study were 12 student EFL teachers (eight female and four male) completing their teaching practicum at Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, English Language Teacher Training Program. The participants were asked to keep diaries related to their CM problems throughout the 12-week teaching practicum. Semi-structured interviews conducted with each teacher candidate and field notes taken by the researchers were also used as the research data. The analyses of the data indicated that student teachers’ CM problems were mainly because of the pupils in the classroom. Student teachers themselves, teaching point and materials, and the cooperating teachers were also the sources of the CM problems. Various coping strategies were also elicited to deal with the problems mentioned. The methodology lessons they took, their cooperating teachers, and their previous teachers were cited by the student teachers as the sources of the coping strategies they employed. The findings are discussed along with the current literature on CM, and certain implications and suggestions are provided for a better teaching practice.