Are Math Word Problems Really a Math Problem or a Linguistic Challenge?

This study aimed to explore mathematics teachers' perceptions of the reasons behind students' struggle with word-problem tasks. The results showed that students had difficulty understanding the story hidden in the question was a math story that could be translated into an equation. The perspective of the students was also taken into account. The study recommended creating meaningful, practical, reader-friendly tasks that are relevant to students' lives. Some special strategies like CAMaL(Combined Activities for Maximized Learning) and TaRL(Teaching at the Right Level) were adopted to strengthen the basic abilities of children. The impact of these strategies was studied along with feedback from the teachers and students. The results showed that there is a direct relationship between solving word problem and vocabulary comprehension. Understanding mathematical terminology, recognizing facts, and being able to imagine scenarios had a positive impact on solving word problems. These skills need to be developed at an early age. If these issues are not addressed at an elementary stage, a fear of word problems develops.