Demotivating Factors of Learning English in Classroom: A Case of University Students in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Dr. Hawraz Qader Hama
Department of English, College of Education, University of Raparin
ABSTRACT
Recently, demotivation has attracted researchers’ attention in the field of second language (SL) and foreign language (FL) learning. Therefore, many studies from different educational contexts have been conducted to explore what factors influence ESL/EFL learners’ demotivation. The present mixed-methods study aims to explore possible demotivating factors of learning English language, their major sources, and possible effect of gender on these factors. In so doing, quantitative and qualitative data are collected from Fifty-seven Kurdish learners of English (26 female and 31 male) through questionnaires and online written interviews. The results reveal some possible factors and their sources of the learners’ demotivation and show that gender difference is effective for one factor, but not for the others. Finally, some pedagogical implications and possible solutions are presented.
Keywords: Demotivation, Language Learning, English as a Foreign Language, University Students, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Doi: 10.23918/vesal2022a49