Challenges in Teaching Speaking in The Implementation of The Merdeka Curriculum

This research aims to analyze and obtain information about teachers' challenges during the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum in teaching English speaking at Muhammadiyah 1 Taman Vocational School and how teachers can overcome these problems. This research method is a qualitative descriptive method and data is obtained through observation and semi-structured interviews. The subject of this research was an 11th-grade English teacher. The results of this study found that the Merdeka Curriculum at Muhammadiyah 1 Taman Vocational School had been implemented and several challenges were found, such as: The students' lack of confidence in speaking English and there is no language laboratory at the school. Teachers believe that successful implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum can be achieved if teachers can overcome existing challenges. Teacher creativity in teaching, teacher motivation toward students, and institutional supportenable teachers to overcome every challenge during the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum in the speaking teaching.