Demotivating Factors in Learning English for Special Purposes: A Research Project at A Police University in Vietnam
Keywords:
Demotivation, demotivating factors, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), cadets, Police University.Abstract
This research project was carried out at a police university in southern Vietnam. The objective was to uncover the factors that demotivate the cadets studying at the university in learning English for Special Purposes (ESP). The variables were divided into four groups: (1) teacher-related, (2) cadet-related, (3) infrastructure-related, and (4) university/faculty-related. In this study, a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods has been used to process data collected from questionnaires sent to 155 second-year cadets, and interviews conducted with 30 cadets. The findings of the study show that there are no demotivating factors coming from the teachers. In fact, what causes the loss of motivation are the cadets themselves, the infrastructure, and the university/faculty. The findings also help in suggesting how to improve the cadets’ ESP learning at the police university in particular and at other institutions in general.
Classification number
Linguistics
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Published
2023-12-22
References
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[Unpublished Master Thesis, GASS].
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Boyle, P. & Bowden, J. A. (1997). Educational quality assurance in universities: An enhanced model. Asse-
ssment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 22(2): 111-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/0260293970220202 Deci, E. L. & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
Dinh, L. T. T. (2021). Factors causing demotivation in learning ESP: A case of the cadets at the College of Artillery Officers’ Training. [Unpublished Master Thesis, GASS].
Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Motivational strategies in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667343
Ellis, R. (1994). A theory of instructed second language acquisition. In Ellis, N. (Ed.), Implicit and explicit learning of languages. Academic Press.
Gardner, R. C. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and
motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
Giang, D. N. & Dinh, L. T. T. (2021). Factors causing demotivation in learning ESP: A case of the cadets at a military college in Vietnam. Journal of Language and Life, 8.
Goonetilleke, D. C. (1989). Language planning and ESP with special reference to Sri Lanka. In Peterson, P.
W. (Ed.), ESP in practice (41-46). Washington, DC: United States Information Agency.
Harmer, J. (1991). The practice of English language teaching: New edition. New York: Longman.
Hằng, N. T. M. (2010). Investigation of demotivators in English speaking lessons of the 10th grade students at Nam Sach High School. [Unpublished Master thesis, ULIS].
Howard, J. K., & Erich, C. F. (2005). Goal propensity: Understanding and predicting individual differences
in motivation. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 24: 215-263.
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Huyền, N. T. T. (2012). Demotivating factors for the first year non-English major students in learning to speak English at Hai Duong College. [Unpublished Master Thesis, ULIS].
Kikuchi, K. (2009). Japanese learners’ demotivation to study English: A survey study. JALT Journal, 31(2):
183-204.
Robinson, P. (1991). ESP today: A practitioner’s guide. New York: Prentice Hall.
Knowles, M. (1975). Self-directed learning. New York: Association Press.
Sakai, H., & Kikuchi, K. (2009). An analysis of demotivators in the EFL classroom. System, 37(1): 57-69. Soulimane, N. Y.B. (2015). Factors demotivating ESP classrooms at the Preparatory School of Sciences and Techniques, Tlemcen, Algeria. Arab World English Journal, 8(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol6no1.9 Strevens, P. (1988). The learner and teacher of ESP. In: Chamberlain, D. & Baumgardner, R. (Eds.), ESP in the classroom: Practice and evaluation. Modern English Publications in association with the British Council. London: 39-44.
Tín, P. H. & Loan, N. T. Q. (2011). Factors affecting students’ learning attitudes. Science and Technology Development Magazine, 14(2): 89-96.
Thủy, L. T. T. (2018). Demotivating factors in learning English: A case of the first year non-major students at University of Labor and Social Affairs. [Unpublished Master Thesis, GASS].
Tomlinson, B. (2011). Material development in language teaching (2nd Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Trực, L. Q. (2019). Students’ difficulties in learning ESP grammar at the People’s Police University.
[Unpublished Master Thesis, GASS].
Vallerand, R. J. (1997). Toward a hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 29: 271-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60019-2 Umera-Okeke, N. (2014). An evaluation of English for specific purposes (ESP) as a modern trend in English language teaching (ELT). African Research Review, 8(3): 179-188.
Winter, N. (2013). The motivation hacker. Smashwords Edition, Electronic Book.
