Peer Tutoring Program in EFL Grammar Class: Challenges Faced by Peer Tutors and How They Overcome Them

Abstract

The peer tutoring program is a result of the skills of high-achieving students to help their peers. It is important to know whether peer tutoring programs bring difficulties for tutors or not. The challenges need to be considered and discussed further because they can affect the process of peer tutoring programs. This study set out to examine peer tutors’ challenges during their peer tutoring program in the EFL grammar course, followed by strategies to overcome them. The researcher observed Grammar tutors at Satya Wacana Christian University, especially in the Intermediate Grammar course. In addition, they were asked to create tutors’ journals in every meeting. The findings indicated that the challenges mostly come from tutees. Those are related to tutees' participation, comprehension, and tutees confidence in learning. However, it is also found that the challenges may come from tutors themselves. The result presented here confirms that the tutor strategies bring positive effects during the peer tutoring program. The implication of this research is to help tutors get more awareness of various challenges they may encounter in a peer tutoring program. If tutors encounter the same issue as peer tutors in this research, they can also attempt to use or develop a strategy that positively affects teaching and learning.