FACTORS AFFECTING GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION TO ENGAGE IN SPEAKING CLASSROOM: THE CASE OF GALMA PREPARATORY SCHOOL, GAMO GOFFA ZONE, SNNPRS

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify factors that affect students’ motivation to engage in speaking lesson in EFL class. The study attempted to find out student related factors that hinder students’ motivation to engage in speaking lesson and the strategies teachers use to overcome the problems. The study was conducted in Galma Preparatory School, Gamo Gofa Zone SNNPRS. The study used mixed research design. For the purpose of study, sixty three (63) grade twelve students and three (3) English language teachers have participated. The sampling technique used for students was simple random sampling and for the teachers was available sampling technique. In order to collect the data questionnaire, interview and classroom observation were used. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively in terms of frequency and percentages. The data obtained from the interview and classroom observation categorized thematically and described verbally. The study suggested that students were less motivated to engage in speaking lesson due to the following students related factors: students’ wrong attitude or views towards speaking lesson, lack of confidence, shyness, anxiety, and fear of making mistakes; and the teacher related factor: teachers’ provision of feedback in the speaking lesson and teachers teaching methods of speaking lesson were found as major factors that affect students’ motivation to engage in speaking in EFL class. Furthermore, it adds the ways how teachers can initiate and sustain students’ motivation in speaking lesson class. Finally, based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that students should take responsibility for their learning and capacity building should be given for their wrong perception towards speaking in the school, awareness should be created gradually for the students’ lack of confidence and teachers should use variety of methods by relating with current approach of teaching speaking lesson as well as use appropriate provision of feedbacks in the speaking lesson with having their own responsibilities to initiate and sustain students’ motivation towards speaking lesson in EFL class.