Abstract
Teaching practice is an important stage in the preparation process of student teachers. The current study aimed at investigating the challenges and difficulties encounter students of the Department of English language in the Faculty of Education at the University of Tripoli while doing their practicum. It also aimed at investigating any significant statistical differences in the perceptions of student teachers. The study tried to find an answer for the question: What are the teaching difficulties encountered student teachers of the English department in the Faculty of Education while doing their practicum? to enable teacher educators and students to attain the desired outcomes from teaching practice. To achieve this purpose, a questionnaire with four domains was developed as follows: The faculty role, educational supervisor, specialized supervisor, school administrators, and cooperated teacher. A survey study ( a sample of 40 student teachers (STs) who attended and passed the theoretical teaching practice. Part (TP) was chosen as the unit of analysis, and were asked to fill in an open ended questionnaire. Results of the study revealed the following: (a) The Faculty of Education at the University of Tripoli helped students in concern with the aims and the conditions of doing the TP as well as determining the place for doing the TP. (b) The study showed the importance of the role played by both educational and specialized supervisors in helping students to overcome the educational difficulties related to the educational process. (c) The study indicated that the cooperated teachers at schools didn‟t positively cooperate with students while doing their practicum especially that related to class management. The study suggested the following: (a) Increasing the period of the teaching practice from one semester into a year to enable students to have more practice at schools.(b) Increasing number of experienced staff members in the faculty who devoted themselves to the teaching practice to supervise and lead teaching practice process in the faculty and at places of training. Finally, the study provided a number of recommendations for the field of study