Addressing Challenges in Teaching English to Young Learners: A Case Study from Thane, Mumbai
The teaching of English to young learners in non-native English-speaking contexts presents a range of pedagogical and contextual challenges. This study investigates the key difficulties encountered by educators while teaching English to young learners in Thane, Mumbai, and its sub-cities—Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Badlapur, and Kasara. Adopting a mixed-methods research approach, data were collected through teacher surveys, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis involving teachers, students, parents, and school administrators. The findings reveal that linguistic limitations, cognitive and psychological factors, environmental constraints, and insufficient teacher training significantly affect the effectiveness of English language instruction. The study offers practical recommendations for improving teaching strategies, enhancing teacher preparedness, and strengthening policy support to promote better learning outcomes among young learners in non-native English-speaking environments.