The objective of the present study was to examine the practices, challenges and opportunities of teaching writing skill in large EFL classes , by investigating the nature of large classes; assessing teachers' perception of class size' examining teachers belief towards teaching writing skill in large classes; assessing the most commonly used techniques which teachers employ when they teach writing skill in large classes. The sample consists of all grade 9 English teachers and 128 respective students randomly selected from three high schools in BahirDar town. Questionnaire, interview and classroom observations were used to collect data to answer the questions. Percentage was used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that there is no definite class size for defining large classes. It differs from school to school teachers' perception of class size also vary depending on teachers' own experiences. The majority of teachers do not have favorable attitude towards teaching writing skill in large classes. They rather considered large classes as problems. Writing skill was not treated equally like other language components in the class room. The teacher (the majority) used text based writing exercises solely. These exercises were approached mostly by homework in pretty similar techniques. The position of the teachers in the writing activities were making rough check students' writing home works and discussing the answers of the activities. Interactive mode of teaching; pair work, group work etc were not given the needed attention, Teachers did not seem to be effective in employing various techniques that provide students with supportive and encouraging environment for learning writing skill as well as knowing their progress through evaluation .Correcting and marking student's writing works, giving attention to each student in the class, following up students progress and giving writing exercises to students regularly were also found to be the acute challenges among the others by the teachers. Moreover, the result of the study entirely revealed that there were a number of problems related mostly to methodology, technique classroom management, follow up in teaching writing skill in large EFL classes. Based on the findings, recommendations were forwarded to alleviate the problems. Hence, teacher training institutes should be forces in promoting favorable attitude towards teaching writing skill in large classes, EFL teacher should be trained on various language teaching methodologies through seminars, workshop etc.

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE