A disseration submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree "Licence en Langue et Littérature Anglaises"

Résumé,


This research entitled "The challenges encountered by teachers in teaching the English reading skill in some selected secondary schools of Musigati commune : Case of Fourth Form" aims at finding out the teachers' hindrances in teaching the reading skill. After presenting and analyzing the data from pupil and teacher's questionnaires and direct observation, the researcher had come out with the following :

. First, the fourth form program provided in the texbooks used in reading classroom is not effective to teach the reading skill. Also, even if there are libraries in various schools, many of them do not have reading materials neither does the surrounding area have places where anyone could go to enjoy reading (public libraries or cyber).

. Second, teaching and / or learning the reading comprehension in English as a foreign language is interesting but difficult. In addition, whereas some schools are successful in English language, others have difficulty instructing their pupils effectively. Thus, they have heavy classes. Hence, the distribution of books, classroom management and the contact teacher-pupil for individual help becomes difficult.
What is more, they devote little time in reading because of household activities, wandering or watching television. Moreover, pupils do not have any other people to speak to in English at home. Furthermore, the lack of teacher's full assistance, commitment and supervision is added to the pupils' laziness and lack of learning interest.

. Furthermore, the precarious living conditions namely poverty, fatigue due to long walk to get to school, low slary payment and unemployment make both pupils and teachers desperate and, therefore, disinterested. In few words, pupils' performance is not satisfying.

. Last, the time allotted to teaching and / or learning the reading skill is insufficient.

To conclude, the above results of the present study inspired the researcher to address recommendations to different groups in Burundian educational system particularly English readers and teachers.