Cover not available
Part of
La integración de la pronunciación en el aula de ELE: Integrating pronunciation in the Spanish language classroom
Editado por Zsuzsanna Bárkányi, M. Mar Galindo Merino y Aarón Pérez-Bernabeu
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 42] 2024
► pp. 259–272

Chapter 16
Demotivation while learning Spanish pronunciation

A study on (potential) factors that discourage students

| Universidade de Vigo,
Demotivation has recently become a focus of language learning research. This chapter explores the underrepresented connection between demotivation and pronunciation instruction with the objectives of (1) assessing the link between pronunciation teaching and demotivation, (2) identifying potential demotivating factors, and (3) analyzing student feedback to offer pedagogical recommendations. Qualitative methodology, involving semi-structured interviews with 40 adult students of Spanish as an additional language from diverse countries was used to achieve these goals. The findings indicate that students wish to have pronunciation instruction and value-corrective feedback that bridges the gap between their spoken and desired language skills, and that they prefer this feedback to be supportive and kind.
Keywords: demotivation, language teaching and learning, pronunciation, Spanish as an additional language (ELE), affective feedback
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Key concepts and main research in the field of demotivation
  • 3.Our research on Spanish pronunciation and demotivation
    • 3.1Instrument
    • 3.2Sample profile
    • 3.3Procedure
    • 3.4Results and analysis
  • 4.Good practices in teaching pronunciation to not demotivate students
  • 5.Conclusions and future research
  • Author queries
  • Note
  • References
  • Appendix
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
References (35)
References
Akita, Y. (2017). Motivational and perception changes in learning Japanese in Brunei Darussalam. Border crossing, 7 (2), 249–262. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Aladdin, A. (2013). Demotivating factors in the Arabic language classroom: What demotivates non-Muslim Malaysian learners when it comes to learning Arabic? Procedia — Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 1652–1657. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2021). Subject-related as a significant demotivating factor for non-muslim learners of Arabic as a foreign language. Journal of Arabic Learning, 4(3), 583–598. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Al-Khairy, M. (2013). English as a foreign language learning demotivational factors as perceived by Saudi undergraduates. European Scientific Journal (ESJ), 32, 365–382. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Arai, K. (2004). What ‘demotivates’ language learners? Qualitative study on demotivational factors and learners’ reactions. Toyo Gakuen Daigaku Kiyo, 12, 39–47.Google Scholar
Barac, K. & Vrhovac, Y. (2018). Les enseignants sont-ils les seuls coupables de la démotivation des apprenants du français langue étrangère? Studia Romanica et Anglica Zagrabiensia, 63, 63–90.Google Scholar
Bárkány, Z. (2021). Motivation, self-efficacy beliefs, and speaking anxiety in language MOOCs. ReCALL, 33 (2), 143–160. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bunyamethi, J. (2018). Los factores desmotivadores en los alumnos tailandeses para el aprendizaje de español como lengua extranjera. Monográfico de SinoELE, 17, 188–202.Google Scholar
Chambers, G. (1993). Taking the ‘de’ out of demotivation. The Language Learning Journal, 7 (1), 13–16. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dewaele, J. M. (2012). Personality in second language acquisition. In C. A. Chapelle (ed.), The encyclopedia of applied linguistics. Blackwell/Wiley. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dörnyei, Z. & Ryan, S. (2015). The Psychology of the Language Learner Revisited. Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hamada, Y. & Grafström, B. (2014). Demotivating factors in learning Japanese as a foreign language. 秋田 大学教育基礎教育研究年報, 9–14.Google Scholar
Hu, R. J. S. (2011). The relationship between demotivation and EFL Learners’ English Language Proficiency. English Language Teaching, 4(4), 88–96. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kaivanpanah, S. & Ghasemi, Z. (2011). An investigation into Sources of demotivation in second language learning. Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 14 (2), 89–110.Google Scholar
Kikuchi, K. (2009). Listening to our learner’s voices: what demotivates Japanese high school students? Language teaching research, 13(4), 453–471. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2015). Demotivation in Second Language Acquisition. Insights from Japan. Multilingual Matters. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kim, T. Y. & Seo, H. (2012). Elementary School Students Foreign Language Learning Demotivation A Mixed Methods Study of Korean EFL Context. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 21(1), 160–171.Google Scholar
Liu, M.; Zheng, Y.; Ma, X. & Wei, Y. (2020). Sustaining Multilingualism in Chinese Universities: Uzbekistani Students’ Demotivation while learning Chinese. Sustainability, 12, 1–16. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mahen, A. & Pathan, Z. (2017). Exploring Factors Causing Demotivation and Motivation in Learning English Language among College Students of Quetta, Pakistan. International Journal of English Linguistics, 7(2), 81–89. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Méndez Santos, M. D. C. (2019). Estudios sobre la desmotivación del alumnado en el aprendizaje formal de lenguas extranjeras: estado de la cuestión. Études romanes de Brno, 40(1), 99–122. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2020a). Acercamiento a la desmotivación experimentada por parte de alumnado adulto durante el aprendizaje formal de léxico de español como lengua extranjera. Revista sobre investigaciones léxicas, 3(2), 102–124. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2020b). La desmotivación de los estudiantes adultos de ELE: Un acercamiento desde los sistemas dinámicos complejos. Culture Crossroads, 15, 74–91. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2020c). Aproximación a la motivación y la desmotivación en el aprendizaje de contenidos a través del inglés como medio de instrucción (EMI) en la enseñanza superior en una universidad española. Hesperia. Anuario de Filología Hispánica, 23, 95–123. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Méndez Santos, M. C. (2023). La desmotivación durante la enseñanza a distancia de emergencia causada por el Covid-19: El caso del español como lengua extranjera en el Instituto Cervantes de El Cairo. Revista Itinerarios, 37, 295–322. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Meneses, J. & Rodríguez-Gómez, D. (2011). El cuestionario y la entrevista. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.Google Scholar
Muhonen, J. (2004). Second language demotivation: Factors that discourage pupils from learning the English language. [Undergraduate project, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland].Google Scholar
Naser, I. & Hamzah, M. (2018). Pronunciation and conversation challenges among Saudi EFL Students. JEES (Journal of English Educators Society), 3(1), 85–104. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Nguyen, H. B. & Thi Pham, V. T. (2017). English-major students’ perceptions of demotivating factors in learning reading. International Journal of advanced research, 5 (8), 200–207. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Nkrumah, B. (2021). Demotivating factors in learning second language: The case of Chinese language learners in Ghana. Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, 6(2), 111–125. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Parente, M. C. & Pereira da Silva Schneider, M. S. (2013). A motivação e/ou a desmotivação na aula de língua inglesa dos alunos do 9° ano: um estudo de caso. Anais do SILEL, 3(1), 1–13.Google Scholar
Rodríguez, G.; Gil, J. y García, E. (1999). Metodología de la investigación cualitativa. Aljibe.Google Scholar
Xuezheng, J. (2014). Investigation of Learner Demotivation in English Learning in Chinese College. International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL), 2(12), 39–45.Google Scholar
Yamasita, J. (2020). What makes difficult to keep learning Japanese? Demotivational factors affecting Indonesian University Students. Jurnal Pendikian dan Pengajaran Bahasa Jepang, 5(1), 1–8. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Zarin, I. (2013). The effect of Accent(s) and Pronunciation(s) of English on Bangladeshi English Language Learners’ Listening Skill acquisition process. East West Journal of Humanities, 4, 29–37.Google Scholar
Zhang, Q. (2007). Teacher misbehaviours as learning demotivators in college classrooms: A cross cultural investigation in China, Germany, Japan and the United States. Communication Education, 56, 209–227. DOI logoGoogle Scholar