Abstrak
HERRY MUHAMAD NUGIE RULLYARIESTA, Reg. No 2130104029, thesis title: “PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ CHALLENGES IN USING SPEAKING SKILLS WHILE TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN THAILAND”. English Teaching Department, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. State Islamic University (UIN) Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar. This research was motivated by the need to understand the challenges faced by pre-service teachers from UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar in using speaking skills while teaching English as a Foreign Language in Junior high school in Thailand. This purpose of this study is to explore and describe the challenges faced by pre-service teachers in using speaking skills while teaching Enflish as a Foreign Language in Junior high school in Thailand. This research used qualitative research with a case study design. In 2024, a total of eleven English students from UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar joined the International Pre-Service Teaching Program in Thailand. The researcher distributed an open-ended questionnaire via Google Form to all participants to identify those who met the research criteria. Based on the responses and using purposive sampling, three pre-service teachers who taught English at the junior high school level were selected as informants. The researcher served as the key instrument, supported by interview guide, notebook, stationery, and a smartphone used for recording the interviews. Data were analyzed using Miles and Hubermans‘ (1984) model, which includes data reduction, data display, drawing and verifying conclusion. Based on the data analysis, this study identified four main challenges faced by pre-service teachers in using English speaking skills in Thai junior high schools: (1) limitations in language ability and teaching media; (2) obstacles in using English as the medium of instruction, including pronunciation and vocabulary issues; (3) underlying factors such as limited proficiency, cultural differences, and lack of experience; and (4) strategies to overcome them, including improving language skills, adapting to local contexts, collaborating with local teachers, and developing media. Strengthening language competence, cultural understanding, and creativity in media use is key to addressing these challenges.