Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College

Can Chen

doi:doi:10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College

Can Chen

Published in Education Journal (Volume 8, Issue 6)

Received: 3 November 2019 Published: 3 December 2019

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Abstract

Motivation plays a significant role in second language acquisition and teaching. Though it has been studied for decades both by practitioners and researchers, the author still finds that the major research centers on studying motivation of learning and acquiring the language, particularly, the English; while ignoring another opposite perspective: demotivation of language learning. Based on the literature review, the investigation on demotivation factors started very late both at home and abroad in academia thus producing few achievements so far. Due to this research gap, the writer thinks that the study on demotivation of L2 learning and acquisition should be expanded further. Therefore, this paper explores the demotivation factors on learning English among students from vocational education sector by interviewing nine participants from a higher vocational college in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China. Through analyzing their responses and learning situations via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the author concludes that teachers’ factors on learners’ demotivation are decreasing while issues including lack of learning strategies, lower learning aptitude, previous unpleasant learning experience, and out-of-dated textbooks are turning to be the main causes for students’ demotivation in learning English in the context of higher vocational education. At last, the writer proposes some coping strategies for teaching practice, such as building up students’ self-confidence and innovating the current textbook, etc. Moreover, the relevant studies in various contexts should be conducted in the future for enriching the existing literature and giving inspiration to teaching practitioners.

Published in	Education Journal (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
Page(s)	338-343
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Demotivation, Higher Vocational College, EFL Learning, Vocational Education

References

[1]	Cai Jinwen & Hou Xianrong. A Study on Demotivation of College EFL Learning, English Teachers, No. 7, 2013, pp. 14-22.
[2]	Dörnyei, Z. & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and Researching Motivation. (2nd Edition) Harlow, England: Pearson Education.
[3]	Hu, R. J. The Relationship between Demotivation and EFL Learners' English Language Proficiency, English Language Teaching, No. 4, 2011, pp. 88-96.
[4]	Hu Weixing & Cai Jinting. Constructing the Model of English Learning Demotivation, Foreign Language Education, No. 21, 2010, pp. 41-49.
[5]	Hua Huifang. Study on English Learning Motivation and Strategies, Foreign Language World, No. 71, 1998, pp. 44-79.
[6]	Kan Zhiwen &Sun Wenjing. An Analysis of Motive Deficiency in Students' Professional English Learning, Guangzhou Vocational Education Forum, No. 12, 2013, pp. 31-36.
[7]	Kim, T. Y. & K., Y. K. Elderly Korean Learners' Participation in English Learning through Lifelong Education: Focusing on Motivation and Demotivation, Education Gerontology, No. 41, 2015, pp. 120-135.
[8]	Li Chili. An Analysis on Demotivation Factors of College Students EFL Learning, College English, No. 11, 2014, pp. 86-94.
[9]	Li Lin. A Study on Internal Factors of Chinese College EFL Learners' Demotivation, JOURNAL of PLA University of Foreign Languages, No. 36, 2013, pp. 65-69.
[10]	Liang Liang. Study of demotivation in English classroom, Journal of Tianjin University of Technology and Education, No. 18, 2008, pp. 75-78.
[11]	Tang Wenli. Status, Trend, Enlightment of the Overseas Research “Motive Deficiency", Journal of Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, No. 5, 2009, pp. 89-92.
[12]	Tang Wenli. An Analysis of Demotivation on Non-English Major College Students, Foreign Language Education, No. 33, 2012, pp. 70-75.
[13]	Wang Jun &Zhou Lele. Study on learners' demotivators in graded English teaching in universities, Journal of Changchun Institution of Technology (Social Science Edition), No. 13, 2012. pp. 107-109.
[14]	Wen Qiufang. Rules and Characteristic on the Change of Motivation Concepts and Strategies for English Leaners Foreign Language Teaching and Research, No. 33, 2001, pp. 105-110.
[15]	Zhang Xiuqing &Zhang Jianfang. The study of demotivating factors of English learning in higher vocational colleges, Journal of Hubei Normal University (Philosophy and Social Science), No. 32, 2012, pp. 124-127.
[16]	Zhou Cibo & Wang Wenbing. Demotivators Analysis of Chinese University EFL Learners, Foreign Languages in China, No. 9, 2012, pp. 48-55.

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Can Chen. (2019). Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Education Journal, 8(6), 338-343. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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Can Chen. Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Educ. J. 2019, 8(6), 338-343. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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Can Chen. Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Educ J. 2019;8(6):338-343. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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@article{10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25,
  author = {Can Chen},
  title = {Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College},
  journal = {Education Journal},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {338-343},
  doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20190806.25},
  abstract = {Motivation plays a significant role in second language acquisition and teaching. Though it has been studied for decades both by practitioners and researchers, the author still finds that the major research centers on studying motivation of learning and acquiring the language, particularly, the English; while ignoring another opposite perspective: demotivation of language learning. Based on the literature review, the investigation on demotivation factors started very late both at home and abroad in academia thus producing few achievements so far. Due to this research gap, the writer thinks that the study on demotivation of L2 learning and acquisition should be expanded further. Therefore, this paper explores the demotivation factors on learning English among students from vocational education sector by interviewing nine participants from a higher vocational college in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China. Through analyzing their responses and learning situations via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the author concludes that teachers’ factors on learners’ demotivation are decreasing while issues including lack of learning strategies, lower learning aptitude, previous unpleasant learning experience, and out-of-dated textbooks are turning to be the main causes for students’ demotivation in learning English in the context of higher vocational education. At last, the writer proposes some coping strategies for teaching practice, such as building up students’ self-confidence and innovating the current textbook, etc. Moreover, the relevant studies in various contexts should be conducted in the future for enriching the existing literature and giving inspiration to teaching practitioners.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College
AU  - Can Chen
Y1  - 2019/12/03
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
T2  - Education Journal
JF  - Education Journal
JO  - Education Journal
SP  - 338
EP  - 343
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2619
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
AB  - Motivation plays a significant role in second language acquisition and teaching. Though it has been studied for decades both by practitioners and researchers, the author still finds that the major research centers on studying motivation of learning and acquiring the language, particularly, the English; while ignoring another opposite perspective: demotivation of language learning. Based on the literature review, the investigation on demotivation factors started very late both at home and abroad in academia thus producing few achievements so far. Due to this research gap, the writer thinks that the study on demotivation of L2 learning and acquisition should be expanded further. Therefore, this paper explores the demotivation factors on learning English among students from vocational education sector by interviewing nine participants from a higher vocational college in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China. Through analyzing their responses and learning situations via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the author concludes that teachers’ factors on learners’ demotivation are decreasing while issues including lack of learning strategies, lower learning aptitude, previous unpleasant learning experience, and out-of-dated textbooks are turning to be the main causes for students’ demotivation in learning English in the context of higher vocational education. At last, the writer proposes some coping strategies for teaching practice, such as building up students’ self-confidence and innovating the current textbook, etc. Moreover, the relevant studies in various contexts should be conducted in the future for enriching the existing literature and giving inspiration to teaching practitioners.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Can Chen

Department of Foreign Languages, Wenzheng College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Can Chen. (2019). Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Education Journal, 8(6), 338-343. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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ACS Style

Can Chen. Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Educ. J. 2019, 8(6), 338-343. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

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AMA Style

Can Chen. Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College. Educ J. 2019;8(6):338-343. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25,
  author = {Can Chen},
  title = {Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College},
  journal = {Education Journal},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {338-343},
  doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20190806.25},
  abstract = {Motivation plays a significant role in second language acquisition and teaching. Though it has been studied for decades both by practitioners and researchers, the author still finds that the major research centers on studying motivation of learning and acquiring the language, particularly, the English; while ignoring another opposite perspective: demotivation of language learning. Based on the literature review, the investigation on demotivation factors started very late both at home and abroad in academia thus producing few achievements so far. Due to this research gap, the writer thinks that the study on demotivation of L2 learning and acquisition should be expanded further. Therefore, this paper explores the demotivation factors on learning English among students from vocational education sector by interviewing nine participants from a higher vocational college in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China. Through analyzing their responses and learning situations via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the author concludes that teachers’ factors on learners’ demotivation are decreasing while issues including lack of learning strategies, lower learning aptitude, previous unpleasant learning experience, and out-of-dated textbooks are turning to be the main causes for students’ demotivation in learning English in the context of higher vocational education. At last, the writer proposes some coping strategies for teaching practice, such as building up students’ self-confidence and innovating the current textbook, etc. Moreover, the relevant studies in various contexts should be conducted in the future for enriching the existing literature and giving inspiration to teaching practitioners.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study on Learners' Demotivation in EFL Classroom - A Case Study at a Higher Vocational College
AU  - Can Chen
Y1  - 2019/12/03
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
T2  - Education Journal
JF  - Education Journal
JO  - Education Journal
SP  - 338
EP  - 343
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2619
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20190806.25
AB  - Motivation plays a significant role in second language acquisition and teaching. Though it has been studied for decades both by practitioners and researchers, the author still finds that the major research centers on studying motivation of learning and acquiring the language, particularly, the English; while ignoring another opposite perspective: demotivation of language learning. Based on the literature review, the investigation on demotivation factors started very late both at home and abroad in academia thus producing few achievements so far. Due to this research gap, the writer thinks that the study on demotivation of L2 learning and acquisition should be expanded further. Therefore, this paper explores the demotivation factors on learning English among students from vocational education sector by interviewing nine participants from a higher vocational college in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China. Through analyzing their responses and learning situations via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the author concludes that teachers’ factors on learners’ demotivation are decreasing while issues including lack of learning strategies, lower learning aptitude, previous unpleasant learning experience, and out-of-dated textbooks are turning to be the main causes for students’ demotivation in learning English in the context of higher vocational education. At last, the writer proposes some coping strategies for teaching practice, such as building up students’ self-confidence and innovating the current textbook, etc. Moreover, the relevant studies in various contexts should be conducted in the future for enriching the existing literature and giving inspiration to teaching practitioners.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download