Teaching English in the Lower Secondary School: What Matters Most?

Abstract

English is usually the most unpopular subject among lower secondary school pupils. It is also the subject in which more pupils do badly than in any other in the SRP exam. Why should this be? Pupils say that English is ‘too difficult’. Teachers say that most pupils are not interested in learning English — or ‘lack motivation’, if we use the jargon of the profession. Clearly something is wrong, when we all start blaming one another.