Motivating Students in the EFL Classroom: A Case Study of Perspectives

Abstract

Motivating EFL students to develop in the target language is quite complex. In many cases, these students face difficulties in learning English and are often demotivated to learn. Research in classroom motivation has found that certain strategies can help these students adopt more positive attitudes and become more motivated in the learning process. This exploratory study investigates the perceptions through interviewing students and surveying teachers' views in an EFL Program of the problems that hinder these students' learning in the English classes related to motivation. Findings show that learners are not motivated to learn English because of an over-focus on writing skills with very little new learning experiences, uninteresting materials, and unclear links between language courses and their majors or future careers. Results also indicate that teachers complain of unmotivated students and pre-structured syllabi leaving little room for communicative methods. Implications are made for the classroom.

A Systematic Review on Using Literature for the Young Learners in an EFL Classroom

“…In a similar study conducted in Beirut, Lebanon, it appeared that the use of uninteresting materials, the lack of any new learning experience, and the ambiguous link between their current English courses and their future careers were among the major factors that hinder their motivation to learn English. The same study had also shown that when teachers use unique strategies that are tailor-fitted to the needs and personalities of their learners, students learn to adopt more positive attitudes towards learning the language (Bahous, 2011). Ultimately, the challenge is in initiating and maintaining young learners' interest in learning English, and studies have shown that one of the best ways to achieving such a goal is through extensive reading (Brown, 2000).…”

The Impact of Social Support on EFL Learners’ Motivation at Iraqi Kurdistan Universities

“…11, No. 7;2017 between students. Those events which match students' needs produce motivated students, who in term do better in language acquisition.…”

“…11, No. 7;2017 Kurdistan. A questionnaire has been developed to explore the most effective factors of motivation for Kurdish EFL students as well as the impact of the motivation component of social support on other motivation factors.…”

“…11, No. 7;2017 important to learn the language for success in their future career. Along the same line, the same students perceive English as a global language, and perceive proficiency in the language important to broaden their access to and interaction with the world.…”

“…Aspects of these components can contribute to or hinder motivation. In a study by Bahous et al (2011) at Lebanese American University, teachers' views and students' perceptions towards an EFL program were examined for demotivating factors among EFL students. The results showed that unprompted materials, incoherent relation between students' majors and language courses as well as focus on one skill such writing over others were taken as impediments towards learning by students.…”