PRE-SERVICE EFL TEACHERS’ ONLINE TEACHING CHALLENGES AT THE TEACHING PRACTICUM PROGRAM AMIDST COVID-19 OUTBREAK AND HOW THEY COPE WITH THEM: A NARRATIVE CASE STUDY

This narrative research aims to explore pre-service EFL teachers’ online teaching challenges at the teaching practicum program amidst COVID-19 outbreak and how they cope with them based on the experiences of four pre-service EFL teachers’ in the internship program. Based on semi-structured interview data, the researcher found that there were several challenges encountered by pre-service EFL teachers’ in teaching online at the teaching internship program during COVID-19 pandemic. The main challenges are unstable internet networks, lack of knowledge about online learning platforms, low self-confidence, lack of support from practicum-mentor, and lack of participation from students. Fourth participants used the similar way of implementing the strategy in which they were look for a nearby place with a good signal; upload teaching materials the day before; note the steps for teaching; go to the house of the practicum-mentor for consulting; and give a warning to students who are not cooperative. This study emphasizes the importance of strategy readiness in dealing with unexpected challenges during the internship program, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic