HIROMI SUZUKI (MEIJI UNIVERSITY)
TOMOHITO HIROMORI (Meiji University)
KODAI KAMINO (Meiji University)

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND DEMOTIVATORS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS : SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

Language learners worldwide frequently struggle with demotivation, a negative process that diminishes their motivation for intended actions and ongoing activities. Although many studies have identified various demotivational factors, they have only listed these factors. It is still unclear how different types of learners perceive what specifically triggers their demotivation, often overlooking individual differences. This study aims to reveal the relationship between types of motivation and demotivational factors among Japanese high school students learning English as a foreign language. A total of 573 high school students participated in the questionnaire. It is composed of two main variables: motivation (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation) based on self-determination theory and demotivators (experience of difficulty, teacher behavior, class environment, and loss of interest). Through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis focused on motivational types, we sought to uncover detailed relationships between motivation and perceived demotivators. Results revealed that students with high external and identified regulation are more likely to perceive the experience of difficulty, one of the internal factors, as demotivating. Contrary to prior research, teacher behavior was not identified as a strong demotivator for any type of motivated learners in the present study. These findings offer insightful information about the demotivating factors Japanese high school students encounter when learning English and underscore the importance of addressing internal factors to enhance student motivation and engagement.

Suzuki, Hiromi is a graduate student at Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan. He has qualifications of teaching English in all junior high and high schools in Japan. He is interested in motivation and demotivation to learn English as a foreign language.

Hiromori, Tomohito is a Professor at Meiji University, Japan. His research interests cover various aspects of individual learner differences (e.g., language learner motivation and strategies) and second language acquisition. His major work has appeared in journals such as International Review of Applied Linguistics, System, and Journal of Asia TEFL.

Kodai, Kamino is a graduate student in the Department of Global Japanese Studies at Meiji University. He is qualified to teach English in all elementary, junior high and high schools in Japan. His research interests include Self-Determination Theory, Teacher Motivation, Teacher Engagement, and Teacher Education.