A Study On The Learning Motivation Of Students With English Learning Difficulties In Junior High Schools

Learning motivation makes a great difference to students’ study.However,the learning motivation problem of students with learning difficulties nowadays is a universal phenomenon.This problem is troubling some parents,teachers and the students themselves,which will become an obstacle to students’ long-term development.As required in the new English Curriculum Standards Reform,attention should be paid to students’ emotional attitudes,especially for students with learning difficulties.Therefore,a better understanding towards learning motivation of the students with learning difficulties can help to improve their study efficiency and motivate their physical and mental health development.This paper consulted the English learning motivation questionnaire compiled by Gao Yihong and the other three scholars（Zhao Yuan,Cheng Ying,Zhou Yan）to do a questionnaire survey on the 250 students with learning difficulties and 250 top students in English from grade seven and grade eight in Lianjiang City Experimental School in Zhanjiang City,China.Then SPSS 23 was used to analyze the collected statistics.Besides,a contrastive analysis was made bwtween the top learners and the research subjects.In order to make a further research,ten students were chosen to do a more specific interview.This study aims to explore the following questions: 1)What is the overall situation of students’ learning motivation with English learning difficulties in the surveyed school? 2)Are there any significant differences between top learners and the ones with English learning difficulties? 3)What are the main reasons inducing the lack of learning motivation among students with English learning difficulties in junior high school?The results show that: 1)The English learning motivation of students with English learning difficulties in junior high school is generally at the mid-low level.The main type of English learning motivation is instrumental motivation.But the intrinsic motivation is at a low level and integrative motivation is nearly low level.Besides,the intensity of English learning motivation is not high,also at a mid-low level.2)There are significant differences in intrinsic motivation,integrative motivation,motivation intensity and self-efficacy among top learners and the students with learning difficulties.3)The influencing factors related to the English learning motivation of students with learning difficulties are students’ little interest in English,weak willpower and low self-efficacy.In addition,lack of cultural communication in English class and English teachers’ insufficient attention to the students with learning difficulties are also important factors.Therefore,some suggestions are given to students and teachers.For students: 1)Students should correctly understand the importance of English learning motivation,engage into the culture of English and cultivate an interest in English.2)Students should strengthen their willpower and build up confidence.3)Students should promote their self-efficacy and develop good learning strategies.For teachers: 1)Teachers should help students to set up reasonable goals,build up confidence and increase self-efficacy,especially for the students with learning difficulties.2)Teachers should facilitate cultural communication with the aid of diversified teaching materials,and create a harmonious learning environment for the students.3)Teachers should pay attention to students’ responses in the English class,especially for the students with learning difficulties and give them timely encouragement.Besides,the in-class tasks should be set up reasonably,from easy to complex.In this way,all students could get a sense of achievement,including the students with learning difficulties.4)Teachers should distinguish the students with learning difficulties as early as possible and give them timely help.5)Teacher should form a formative evaluation towards the students with learning difficulties and weaken the negative effects from the exams for them.However,there are still some shortcomings in the study due to the limited sample range and single research methods.Thus the author hopes that it can be improved in further studies.