CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN TEACHING COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH IN AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Increased attention has been given to teaching colloquial English, as the global importance of English as a lingua franca is recognized, which is important for effective communication in informal and real-life con-texts. In public schools, special challenges and opportunities are presented by teaching colloquial English in Azerbaijan. This paper examines the challenges that educators and schoolchildren face when integrating colloquial English into the curriculum. It also draws attention to strategies that may improve this integra-tion. By analyzing a variety of teacher feedback, many schoolchildren's attitudes, and several institutional constraints, this study reveals ways that many public schools in Azerbaijan may improve their teaching of colloquial English, which could importantly narrow the divide between academic English skills, and every-day language usage.