Challenges in integrating local culture in elt into project-based learning: teachers’ experiences at MTSN 4 sidoarjo

Project-based learning is a learning model that uses projects as a way to deliver learning materials and is widely used in learning. This study aims to explore (1) The challenges that English teachers experience in integrating local culture in ELT within PjBL at MTsN 4 Sidoarjo (2) The solution taken by English teachers to overcome challenges in integrating local culture in ELT within PjBL at MTsN 4 Sidoarjo. This study used a qualitative approach with interview three English teachers at MTsN 4 Sidoarjo. This study found that (1) in integrating local culture with PjBL, the teachers encountered four challenges, namely challenges related to students’ low vocabulary mastery, the difficulty in finding word equivalents for vocabulary from the local language into English, difficulty in obtaining appropriate resources needed by this local culture-based project, and the last challenge related to the difficulty in designing an assessment rubric for this project. (2) In facing these challenges, teachers took several steps such as introducing the vocabulary to students before the project started, utilizing the internet which has become more advanced, utilizing the results of previous students' projects, and conducting discussion sessions with other English teachers