Grade one teachers’ experiences in developing children’s phonological awareness in English as a second language: A case of Onankali circuit, Namibia
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Date
2025
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
This study aimed at exploring the challenges Grade 1 teachers encounter when teaching
phonological awareness in English as a Second Language (ESL) in the Onankali Circuit
of the Oshikoto Education Region of Namibia. The difficulties that children face during
the early stages of learning affect the acquisition of better reading skills in future (Naiken,
2016). In an effort to comprehend the difficulties that Grade 1 teachers face in teaching
phonological awareness, a single case study design and qualitative approach were used in
this study. In addition, the study used purposive sampling to identify the three schools,
which consisted of six Grade 1 teachers, three Junior Primary Heads of Departments, and
one Advisory teacher from Onankali Circuit. For data collection, face-to-face interviews,
observations and document analysis were utilised. Moreover, content analysis was used
for data analysis. Some major challenges revealed in the study are but not limited to are a
lack of conceptual knowledge about the development of phonological awareness,
insufficient teaching and learning resources for phonological awareness, teachers’ lack of
English proficiency as well as the insufficient training on the development of phonological
awareness which leads to poor reading skills among the Grade 1 learners. The study
further revealed the need for Grade 1 teachers to broaden their pedagogical content
knowledge of the suitable teaching strategies for phonological awareness and the usage of
relevant teaching activities for phonological awareness. Finally, the study recommends
Educational Regional offices to make provision for quality professional development
training workshops and universal teaching materials for all Grade 1 teachers to support
phonological awareness instruction
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Keywords
Phonological awareness, Emergent literacy, Initial reading, Teaching strategies, Conceptual knowledge