Abstract

Tengku P. Baizura and Marion Mastura Hamzah

Teaching English as a second language in preschools is quite a daunting task for the present preschool teachers. In learning to teach preschool programme in English, they need to have positive perception and thought as well as the knowledge on language and language teaching. In this paper, perception, thought and knowledge of using English in preschools of a group of preschool teachers currently teaching in the West Coast region of Sabah will be the focus of the study. Data were collected by means of questionnaire. The data were quantitatively analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result indicated a disparity between teachers’ perceptions between what they should know on how to teach using English language and their level of preparation for this task. Teachers’ current levels of knowledge of spoken and written English language structure are insufficient for addressing the instructional needs of children in the preschool. These teachers too expressed concern regarding their limited knowledge of terminology related to instruction in English.