Assessing Practices and Challenges in Implementing Motivational Strategies in English Classrooms: The Case of Ambo Secondary School Grade 9 in Focus

Abstract

The central purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges in implementing motivational strategies in grade 9 English classrooms at Ambo Secondary School. The descriptive research design and mixed methods approach were employed in this study. Four grade nine English teachers and 95 grade 9 students were the participants of the study. The study used questionnaire, interview and classroom observation as data collection tools. The questionnaire was administered to the students and students. Subsequently, an interview was used in which 4 teachers and 5 students participated. At the end, all teachers were wisely observed when they teach in classes for additional input. The data were analyzed using percentage and qualitative description. The findings implied that the teachers used some motivational strategies to motivate students actively engage themselves in teaching learning process in classrooms. However, they ignored most of the motivational strategies that were mentioned in the literature review part of this study because of the challenges that were identified as the major factors that negatively affect the practices and implementations of motivational strategies in EFL classrooms. These include large classroom size, lack of students’ interest, inaccessibility of students’ textbooks, students’ negative attitude towards learning L2 and shortage of time. Therefore, the researcher would like to recommend that in order to alleviate the aforementioned problems in the school under study, the school should arrange appropriate class size, facilitate the access of students’ textbooks and allocate sufficient time for each lesson with the cooperation of other concerning bodies. On the other hand, the school grade nine EFL teachers should try their best to practice and implement the motivational strategies mentioned in the literature review in classroom appropriately to motivate their students. In terms of the students, they should learn English for further knowledge and use it in their real life.