Motivators for Demotivators Affecting English Language Acquisition of Saudi Preparatory Year Program Students


  •  Ayman Sabry Daif-Allah    
  •  Abdulaziz Saleh Alsamani    

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the demotivating factors that discourage Preparatory Year Program (PYP) students from learning the English language. It also proposes and tests the effectiveness of a set of academic and administrative approaches on enhancing English language acquisition of 102 Saudi PYP Students taking an EFL summer course in the Deanship of Educational Services, Qassim University. The quantitative and qualitative data were collected by means of questionnaire, analysis of test scores, classroom observation, teachers’ feedback and informal interviews with students. The findings specified nine significant extrinsic demotivators affecting Saudi students’ EFL learning where a set of practical strategies were implemented to remotivate students and help them learn English better. On top of these strategies came reduction of class size, weekly quizzes and extracurricular activities. The results of the research indicated that the proposed strategies were very successful in restoring PYP students’ motivation, increasing the amount of their learning, developing teachers’ promptness and establishing good rapport between students and teachers.



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