TEACHERS’ ROLES AS FACILITATORS OF ENGLISH LEARNING OF STUDENTS OF SMA NEGERI 8 KUPANG CITY

Abstract

This study was conducted at SMA Negeri 8 Kupang City to investigate how teachers performed their roles as facilitators in the English teaching and learning process, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they used to overcome those challenges. The objectives were to describe teachers’ facilitative roles, the difficulties encountered, and the strategies applied to support students’ English learning. This research used a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected through classroom observations and in-depth interviews with three English teachers. Observations focused on classroom practices, while interviews explored teachers’ perceptions, experiences, and strategies. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns related to the research questions. The findings showed that teachers performed several facilitative roles, including acting as guides, motivators, resource providers, and creators of positive learning environments. They helped students build confidence, adapt materials to students’ needs, and integrate technology such as Quizizz and Google Translate to enhance engagement. However, teachers faced challenges such as low student motivation, large class sizes, and limited facilities. To address these issues, they applied peer learning, positive reinforcement, and creative teaching strategies to support effective English learning.