Challenges in Teaching Prepositions in a Language Classroom

Abstract

This research deals with English prepositions and the difficulties English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students face while they master prepositions. The researchers also intend to identify the needs of English teachers who wish to improve their teaching skills through a better explanation of prepositions by giving them some practical tips. The participants in this research were 50 teachers. Data were collected through questionnaires done with English teachers from Albania, Greece and Kosovo. The aim of the questionnaires was to discover if the teachers taught prepositions in the class or not. The research findings revealed that most of the EFL teachers teach what’s in the textbook or they just do not explain prepositions at all. Most of the teachers felt that English prepositions are difficult to teach to nonnative speakers, for many reasons: 1. polysemy of prepositions, where different meanings change according to the context in which prepositions are used; 2. lack of a spoken and written guide on how to use prepositions; 3. native language interference. At the end of article the authors provide multiple activities concerning prepositions, their acquisition and their usage.

Keywords: prepositions, EFL students, native language interference, acquisition