Probe Into Motivational Problems In English Learning: Low Motivation Intensity, Demotivation And Amotivation

As we know, it is commonly believed that motivation is the most important learner factor attributing to the language learning achievement. Without the understanding of students' second language learning motivation, we can't reach our pedagogical goal effectively. However, up till now little consideration is given to demotivation and amotivation of second language learners. Due to their poor academic achievement, the students in Art College possess more motivational problems in their English learning: low motivation intensity, demotivation and amotivation. Thus, the author takes this special group of students as subjects for her study. The research applies both qualitative and quantitative approach in order to find out their motivational problems and the underlying reasons.In this paper, the quantitative method is used to examine the overall motivational problems of this special group of students. The findings indicate their motivation intensity is quite low and most learners are motivated extrinsically and instrumentally; qualitative method of interview and journal writing is employed to go deeper into the causes of these problems and to analyze the causes of demotivation and amotivation, which are common to the students with low motivation intensity. The findings betray that on the students' level, the motivational problems result from their negative affective experience, low metacognitive strategy use and lack of knowledge of motivational strategies. It seems surprising that the teacher is an influential demotivated factor, which directly or indirectly results in the demotivated problem on the students' level.The paper consists of five chapters:In chapter one, the importance of the author's research for demotivation and amotivation is justified.In chapter two, the author reviews motivational theories of different schools in the field of psychology and second language acquisition as well as the empirical studies on language learning motivation at home and abroad.In chapter three, the author, at first, identifies the motivational problems of this group of students and then probes into the motivational problems with a view to finding out the underlying reasons.In chapter four, some pedagogic implications for how to activate students' motivation have been given on the basis of the analysis of the problems detected in the research.Chapter five summarizes the whole paper, points out the limitations of the paper and offers some pedagogical suggestions for future research.