A challenge highlighted in the article is curriculum constraints—language teaching curricula often prioritize grammar, vocabulary, and test preparation, leaving little room for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities.

SEL Challenge: Teacher preparedness - without adequate preparation, teachers may struggle to understand SEL principles and apply them in ways that support both language learning and emotional development.

Skoupra A

and about challenges: Balancing SEL with Language Goals
I must carefully balance emotional development with linguistic objectives.

Challenge: Teacher Preparedness

Teachers may not feel feel confident enough to implement SEL strategies in their classroom and may need additional/ongoing training, support or mentoring so as to succefully incorporate SEL without missing the language learning targets.

However, students' diversity and differentiation is always a challenge. Not all students learn in the same way and pace, and not all share the same social and cultural background. Emotional development may also vary.

Here, SEL offers a supportive environment and improves English language teaching and learning.

Christina Anagnostopoulou

Anastasios Navrozidis

Kyrmanidou Elli

Nikolaos Kokkas

I believe that SEL is important in the teaching context of a Greek High School ELT class beacause SEL would help Greek High School students manage anxiety and low self-esteem, which are common challenges in language learning. Moreover, the integration of SEL in ELT in the educational system of Greece at a secondary level would promote understanding and respect among diverse student background. By focusing on emotional intelligence and social skills, SEL can prepare students not only for academic success but also for personal growth.

Nikolaos Kokkas

I totally agree that SEL is an invaluable tool which, in the right hands, can perform miracles. Among others, it can help create
a safe environment, where students are more likely to engage in learning activities and participate in classroom
discussions, role-playing, etc. Ideally, SEL should be aiming not only at enhancing the language proficiency of the weak ones but making sure that the already proficient users of the language will feel free to exhibit their skills, without fear of being ridiculed or stigmatised as the ones that stand out from the group.
Unfortunately, as in all powerful tools, when in the hands of an ignorant SEL can cause more damage than offer benefits. A vast majority of educators believe that teaching means passing their "wisdom "on to their students and following the curriculum. In my opinion, a real challenge is teacher preparedness but not just in terms of lack of adequate preparation. The actual challenge would be to "re-educate" teachers and change an entire mindset, before even making any attempt to integrate SEL into teaching.

On the other hand one of the challenges is the constraint of time and resources.Teachers don't have enough time to apply more SEL activities due to the curriculum needs

SEL activities are very important in my teaching context because there are a lot of students that have low self esteem and confidence especially in the speaking production and their emotional growth needs to be supported.

Eleni Tsitaki

Firstly, I would choose Enhancing Student Engagement and Motivation. Boosting students' participation and interest, using role-plays and group discussions that focus on empathy and cooperation and having group-solving exercises.

But Building a Supportive Classroom Community is also significant.

As far as challenges are concerned, Curriculum Constraints (the teaching material, exams, the 'Question Bank') and Limited Time (only 1 lesson per week) equally weigh us teachers down and restrict us from using SEL as often as we like.

Apart from that, Student Diversity is a big challenge, especially, when we have young refugees in our classrooms.

Pagonidou Efthalia

Although the positive impacts of SEL outweigh the challenges, I cannot ignore the fact that the relevant resources are limited and so is the time in the classroom .

Peristera (Rea) Dailaki

However, there are multiple challenges and constraints in the incorporation of SEL in ELT, the main one being that of limited time and resources. Time can never be enough especially in a class with various levels of students’ learning needs, motivation and the demands of covering the respective language curriculum as well as the fact that the resources are often limited in many educational settings.

Σωτηρία Χατζηκωνσταντίνου

Evdokia Kassapi

Challenge-Student Diversity and Differentiation This necessitates educators to adopt strategies that not only cater to academic goals but also prioritize the emotional well-being of students, fostering a supportive learning environment. Adapting SEL strategies involves tailoring interventions that resonate with students from various cultural backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity and relevance in addressing their emotional and social learning needs.

Eleni Ortaxidou

A significant challenge is teacher preparedness, as teachers are not well-equipped, even from their pre-service education, to meet their students' social and emotional needs. They need to stay up-to-date with the latest practices and for the best of the school community. Constant training, ongoing support are more than necessary not to mention practical, hands-on experience.

Δασκαλάκη Αθανασία

An opportunity

An indisputable opportunity is that students are actively involved and engaged. The benefits that accrue to learners are measurable and may be implemented both in their academic and personal life. SEL provides the opportunity for collaboration and team work.

A challenge

Limited time and resources provide a serious challenge for the ideal implementation of SEL pracices.

Life is so challenging itself full of obstacles, inflexible, unstable and unexpected situations and that one has to find internal strength so that can remain willing to overcome difficulties, to be flexible, stable and strong emotionally in order to maintain emotional and mental health.

Teaching a student methods and ways of confronting various situations with emotional strength and challenges, is as if you prepare him/her in order to avoid quitting from goals and perspectives even when failure is encountered.

On the other hand the challenge I find the most difficult to handle is using the same methods of teaching emotional resilience to different personalities that come from diverse family backgrounds and do not use the same way of exresssing themselves. This implies that the teacher has to implement various ways of SEL in the classroom as one method cannot apply to all students. How can a teacher manage this when time and schedule constrain?

I really like how the article mentioned using things like role-plays, and group discussions to build self-awareness and confidence. In my English classes, students often feel shy or afraid to speak. Adding these SEL-based activities could make them more comfortable and help them express themselves better in English.

Challenge: Not enough time to fit SEL into the lessons

Time is always a problem! Between reading comprehension, grammar, writing, and exam prep, there’s not always enough time to add extra activities. Still, I think we can start small—maybe short reflection moments or teamwork tasks that include empathy or communication practice. It’s about finding little ways to make it work.

Tania Rallousi

Ourania Chatzitoulousi

When students experience a positive classroom climate, they are more engaged, open to participating, and willing to take the kinds of academic and social risks that deepen learning. Creating this environment isn’t just about classroom management — it’s about fostering meaningful relationships that support growth.

Student diversity and differentiation

I recognize the ongoing challenge of addressing the diverse emotional and social needs of my students. SEL requires me to go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and consider each student’s unique emotional development. This means I must constantly adapt my strategies to not only support academic progress but also ensure that every student feels emotionally safe and understood. Balancing these needs can be complex, but it’s essential for creating a truly inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Kouklatzidou Eleni

As regards my teaching method, students could improve their communication and interpersonal skills through active listening. Activities such as ''listening circles'' can reinforce students respond to information by taking turns and lead to more effective communication.

Thus, time is not always enough to complete such tasks. If there were more hours in ESL teaching, more SEL activities could be completed.

to create a safe learning envinonment through classroom discussions, role-playing etc.One of the constraints though is students'emotional differentiation in applying the method effectivelly so training teachers more may be needed.

Maria Angelopoulou

In a multilingual classroom, students often face communication challenges due to cultural and linguistic differences. Using SEL activities like listening circles, role-plays, and group discussions can improve interpersonal skills, empathy, and collaboration thereby minimizing misunderstandings and conflicts. However, many English teachers in Greece lack formal SEL training, which can hinder the creation and implementation of SEL-integrated lessons. Without clear guidance or structured support, SEL may be applied inconsistently, limiting its effectiveness on students' learning and overall well-being.

is a significant opportunity that SEL offers because it promotes a sense of belonging among students through collaborative tasks. Nowadays a sense of belonging is critical for students' emotional and academic development, as it makes them feel valued, respected, and connected to their peers and the learning environment. In this way , it contributes to a positive classroom climate where students feel connected to their school community, more motivated, engaged, and likely to succeed academically.

However, a significant challenge in integrating SEL into ELT is the constraint of limited time and resources.

The demands of covering the standard language curriculum can leave little room for additional SEL activities, making it difficult to balance both objectives . Time constraints are a common barrier, as teachers must prioritize core academic content over supplementary SEL programs.

In my teaching context I value the above opportunity that SEL offers as I strongly believe that students should feel connected to their school community and peers in order to succeed academically but also emotionally(those two should coexist). And as for the limited time and resources, a reality that we all face nowadays, is for sure a challenge that teachers should overcome in order for them and their students to benefit from SEL activities.

Fotini Chatzipanagiotou

It's important because a sense of belonging isn't a passive feeling, it's an active one, a lived experience built on positive relationships. Collaboration and peer support are the very mechanisms that create and strengthen those bonds. When students work together on a shared goal, they practice interdependence, learning that their unique contributions are valued and necessary for the group's success. This shifts the classroom dynamic from individual competition to a "we're in this together" community. Peer support builds trust and psychological safety. Knowing you can ask for help, offer support, or make a mistake without judgment makes you feel accepted for who you are. These activities are the practical application of SEL, proving to students that they are seen, valued, and an essential part of the group.

A significant challenge in integrating SEL into English Language Teaching (ELT) is the constraint of time and resources.

That's a significant challenge because ELT curricula are already densely packed. Teachers face constant pressure to cover specific language skills such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and the four main skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) often to prepare students for term tests and end-of-year exams.

Μάττα Χριστίνα

One of the main challenges the authors identify is that existing curricula often prioritise language-objectives (grammar, vocabulary, exam preparation) leaving little time or “space” for SEL activities. That’s a significant challenge because in many schools the syllabus is fixed, the timetable tight, and there is significant pressure to cover set language curriculum/exams. If I try to add SEL activities, I may feel like I’m “stealing” time from language objectives, or students may resist if they think we’re “not doing English.” NATALIA IOANNOU

Panagiota Koutsogianni

One challenge is time restraints.

In my teaching context, I place special emphasis on patience before expressing contradiction, self-confidence, assertive negotiation, mutual respect, and collaborative mentality, not as separate practices, but embedded in our academic struggle in class, and though this may well be a challenge in its own right, I would concur with specialized training in effective use of SEL. Georgia M. Koutsou

A major challenge identified in the article is curriculum constraint.
Teachers often have limited time to include SEL activities because the curriculum mainly focuses on grammar, vocabulary, and academic content. This makes it difficult to balance SEL with language learning goals.

A major challenge is the lack of time, resources, and teacher preparedness to effectively integrate SEL alongside language objectives.

This is significant in teaching because without proper training and support, teachers may struggle to balance SEL with curriculum demands, limiting its impact on students’ overall growth.

The greatest challenge is that Educational curricula often prioritize language learning objectives, such as grammar and vocabulary acquisition, which may leave limited room for SEL activities.

 But sometimes limited time can be overcome if we focus on a friendly and supportive environment in our classrooms. A study by Taylor et al. (2017) highlights the importance of empathy in developing positive social relationships and enhancing prosocial behavior among students.

Evi Bana

Definitely YES. A school subject like English is certainly an appropriate environment for SEL. Through activities like role-playing, group discussions, problem solving, for-against exercises, active listening, peer mediation, group projects, feedback sessions and many more, we can achieve a better classroom environment. A place where kids feel safe, respected and confident. Such an environment would minimize stress and boost motivation, interest, participation, empathy, cooperation, communication, inclusivity and a sense of belonging.

But there's a catch, so hold your horses...

There needs to be careful planning, since there is a 4o-minute time limit and a curriculum to bare in mind!

By Meropi Efstratiou

An important Challenge of Integrating SEL into ELT can be the difficulty in balancing SEL goals with language objectives. Integrating SEL requires careful planning to align the five SEL competencies with specific language learning objectives. As teachers, we face the difficulty of having to balance the needs of SEL (like empathy training) with the core goal of ELT (like acquiring grammar and vocabulary). This ongoing pedagogical challenge requires the careful adaptation of teaching strategies to ensure that SEL activities reinforce, rather than distract from, the core academic content, a challenge highlighted by curriculum constraints.

Anastasia Galanou

Challenge:
Conversely, the authors highlight teacher preparedness as a central challenge to effective SEL implementation. Many educators lack formal training and ongoing professional development in SEL pedagogy, resulting in uncertainty about how to align emotional learning objectives with linguistic outcomes. This issue is especially relevant in my context, where limited institutional support and resources constrain teachers’ capacity to implement SEL meaningfully.

Significance in My Context:
Both aspects underscore the necessity of a balanced and well-supported approach to SEL integration—one that combines pedagogical innovation with targeted teacher training. Such an approach can sustain both academic achievement and students’ emotional well-being, fostering more resilient and communicatively competent learners.

emotional and educational growth,

empathy, problem solving abilities,

integration into groups and sharing opinions and knowledge are some of the benefits.

But limited time, grammar and vocabulary - centered school curriculum, lack of sources and absence of ongoing learning for teachers makes it difficult, but not impossible, to use. With lots of love and willingness to integrate SEL , EACH ONE can try and use it as much as he/she can.

In ESL teachers use SEL already many years in routines like group work, presentations, problem solving, role-plays,etc.

Integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) offers a valuable chance to enhance students’ self-confidence and empathy through interactive tasks like role plays and group work in English. Such activities encourage students to communicate more freely. For students with learning difficulties, SEL also helps them feel more included in the classroom community.

Challenge:

It’s not always easy to design lessons that give equal attention to both language skills (for example, grammar and vocabulary) and emotional growth (such as teamwork or self-awareness), particularly in a mixed-ability class with diverse learning needs.

Regarding the implementation of SEL practices, an opportunity persistently relevant to my teaching context, most contexts in fact in primary and secondary education, is building a supportive classroom community. This opportunity should ideally be cultivated not only for the sake of academic development, as it boosts motivation and student confidence, but also to contribute to a positive school experience and emotional growth of students.

 A challenge worth addressing in the ELT classroom is balancing curriculum constraints such as grammar and vocabulary acquisition  with integrating SEL techniques. This requires careful planning and flexibility.

Evdoxia Kinali

ELPIDA-MARIA TSAKIRDAI

One opportunity that SEL gives to teachers is the improvement of their students' communication skills through role-plays and project work. I think this is very important because student engagement is one of the most difficult parts of language teaching.

On the other hand, the challenge that I consider more important is student diversity and differentiation. Adapting to each student's level gives teachers an opportunity to develop a holistic approach to their lessons.

SEL helps students grow not only academically but also emotionally and socially, creating more balanced and resilient individuals. Through teamwork, communication, and empathy-building activities, learners develop essential life skills that go beyond the language classroom. This holistic development supports both academic success and personal well-being, preparing students for future challenges inside and outside school.

However, integrating SEL in ELT can be difficult because students have different emotional needs, language levels, and cultural backgrounds. Teachers must adapt SEL strategies to suit these differences, which can be time-consuming and complex. Finding ways to make SEL activities meaningful and inclusive for all learners remains a key challenge in diverse ESL classrooms.

The most relevant challenge from the article would likely be 'Curriculum constraints'. Having to follow the national curriculum which has specific language items, along with the fact that class periods are often short may discourage the inclusion of SEL activities.

Δέσποινα Χαλβατζή

Group tasks, project work, and peer-assisted learning become more productive when students have SEL skills like cooperation, conflict resolution, and empathy.

Challenge * Difficult Classroom Conditions

Large classes, limited materials, or students with behavioural challenges can make SEL implementation harder.

Ipermahia Christodoulou

Opportunities

1. SEL supports Better Classroom Climate and helps build trust, empathy, and respect.

2. SEL improves Communication Skills and aligns naturally with ELT because both focus on:

• expressing feelings.

• listening actively.

3. SEL enhances Motivation and Engagement.

Students with strong self-management and are more willing to participate.

4. SEL builds Intercultural Competence.

SEL encourages empathy and perspective-taking, key components of communicative competence and intercultural communication.

5. SEL helps Develop 21st-Century Skills and strengthens collaboration, critical thinking.

Challenges

1. Limited Teacher Training.

Many English teachers are not formally trained in SEL principles.

2. Curriculum and Time Constraints.

SEL activities may be seen as “extra” or not aligned with language objectives, reducing their priority in class time.

3. Cultural Sensitivity Issues.

Integrating SEL contributes to a warm and encouraging classroom atmosphere. It helps lower students’ stress levels and boosts their motivation. In my English lessons, this approach makes young learners feel more secure and comfortable, encouraging them to speak and take part in activities.

One key difficulty is that teachers often lack proper training, and there is little time available for SEL tasks. Because lessons are short, including SEL regularly can be challenging, but even brief, simple activities can still have a strong impact.

In my EFL classroom, SEL  offers significant opportunities to build supportive classroom community by promoting a sense of belonging and community among students

One significant challenge in integrating SEL into English Language Teaching (ELT) is the constraint of time and resources.

On the other hand,many teachers feel unprepared to integrate SEL into their lessons because they lack specific training. This is a challenge in ELT since teachers may not know how to combine SEL strategies with grammar, vocabulary, and communication goals. If teachers are unsure how to implement SEL or do not feel confident managing students’ emotional needs, SEL activities may be inconsistent or ineffective. Without ongoing professional development, it becomes difficult to include SEL meaningfully in our English classes.