Determining the English Proficiency Levels and Needs of Primary School Teachers Concerning Their English Language Teaching Experiences

Abstract

This study aims to determine the perceived English language proficiency levels and needs of primary school teachers concerning their English language teaching experiences. Data were collected from 148 primary school teachers working in schools in Ankara where there are currently no appointed English language teachers. For data collection, the English Language Proficiency Self-Assessment Grid (Council of Europe, 2018) was used to determine the perceived levels of English proficiency,and a questionnaire with open-ended questions was used to identify the challenges these teachers experience in teaching English and necessary support mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the low level of perceived English proficiency is the biggest problem, and adequate and functional materials is the most necessary support. Considering these needs of the primary school teachers who teach English, a well-structured in-service
training along with high-quality materials are required so that English language instruction in these cases can well be improved.