Remotivating demotivated English learners a case study

Kheiri, Hojjat

Abstract

Abstract: Remotivation is the process of restoring lost or diminished motivation by either teachers’ mediation or students’ application of self-regulating strategies. This longitudinal case study reports on the attempts to help four demotivated students renew their motivation. Students’ diaries, interviews, questionnaires, classroom observation and field notes were used to collect data. All cases attributed their loss of motivation to primarily external factors and two cases attributed it to internal causes too. Once demotives were identified, motivational strategies were employed for eight months. Overall, the findings suggested that demotivated students’ motivational beliefs could be worked on: it could be brought into surface and negotiated with subsequent positive effects on their motivational autonomy. Not only in behavioural measures but also in classroom achievement a promising pattern was observed. The prime case-general remotivators are discussed while acknowledging the individuality of cases and uniqueness of contexts. Key words: classroom learning, motivation, remotivating

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