Motivating English foreign language students to speak in English classrooms

Abstract EN

This study investigates the factors that demotivate EFL students from speaking English in the classrooms, the motivational factors and strategies that can motivate EFL students and improve their ability to speak actively in classrooms.

For data collection, a questionnaire was administered to 106 3rd year EFL students who were randomly selected from College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, ten EFL students and ten teachers were also interviewed at the above-mentioned university.

The findings of the study indicated that despite the students’ positive attitudes towards speaking English, the majority of EFL students are not competent in speaking English.

However, the students cannot speak actively due to some factors including linguistic, psychological, classroom environmental factors, insufficient use of motivational strategies, the curriculum and students being inaccurate and non-fluent.

The findings also indicated that teachers’ use of words of applause, allocating more time for practicing speaking skill, providing friendly classroom atmosphere and allowing students to choose topics of discussion are among the most prominent factors that contribute in motivating EFL students to speak in the classrooms.

Moreover, using technological utilities, inviting native speakers and the use of Communicative Language Teaching are also found as motivating factors.

The findings also indicated that the strategies such as applying role-play, debate and problem-solving, employing group/pair work discussion, providing friendly learning environment, raising students’ confidence are very important to engage students in speaking activities.

The study also presented some suggestions including providing students with adequate motivation, developing vocabulary and grammar usage, using up-to-date teaching materials, adopting student-centered approach, suggesting topics which reflect students’ needs, celebrating the students’ success, applying role-play and group/pair work discussions to motivate EFL students to speak English in the classrooms.