Being an English teacher in primary school: Teachers' perceptions, views, and suggestions

This study aims to reveal primary school English teachers' perceptions of the teaching profession as well as their expectations and suggestions regarding their professional development. The research was designed as a qualitative case study. The study group consisted of 32 English teachers working in public primary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the city center of Erzincan. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that teachers generally hold positive perceptions of the profession and view teaching as a source of emotional satisfaction and a way of life. However, factors such as physical and mental fatigue, teaching anxiety, difficulties in adapting to the primary school level, and the perception that English teaching is not taken seriously contribute to negative perceptions. In addition, teachers reported challenges including the deterioration of subject-matter knowledge, classroom management problems, insufficient course hours, and lack of instructional materials. Based on the findings, it is recommended that continuous and up-to-date in-service training programs be provided, weekly course hours be reconsidered, parent–teacher collaboration be strengthened, and the technological infrastructure of schools and classrooms be improved.