Teachers’ Attitudes to Special Needs Students in English Language Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of the study: This study aimed to investigate the teachers' attitudes to special needs students and also the contribution that will be useful in inclusive education.
 Methodology: This study used qualitative methods. The research subjects were five general teachers who teach students with special needs in inclusive education in Jambi, Indonesia. The sampling procedure was used for purposive sampling. The data were collected by a semi-structured interview with five teachers from different backgrounds of teaching. The recorded interview data were transcribed. The documents were then studied, labelled, and elucidated comprehensively.
 Main Findings: The result of the research revealed that teachers’ attitude to special need students is good. In addition, the contribution of the teachers’ attitudes is formed from this research, such as the transformation of the value of each student, the strategies of the teachers like seating arrangement, the using of the different curriculum, teaching aids and rapport.
 Applications of this study: To achieve education for all and education equality, the government in Indonesia increases the number of inclusive education. The findings of this research are expected to add new knowledge to the scope of inclusive education especially in EFL contexts. Theoretically, the results of this study are expected to provide some references and contributions for the study on special needs students in inclusive education.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This issue becomes a new atmosphere for teachers, especially for EFL teachers in teaching the various students. It is essential to know teachers' attitudes to special needs students in the context of inclusive education because that aspect will be piloting to the contribution of the teaching and learning process.