Motivational Strategies and Student Motivation in an EFL Saudi Context

Abstract

This research is conducted to investigate the perceptions of teachers and students as regards to ten motivational strategies (MSs) proposed by Dornyei & Csizer (1998) for motivating learners. It is an empirical research using quantitative methods to collect data. A structured survey on a large scale of a random sample of female teachers and students was conducted in a university Saudi context. The data collected from the questionnaires is analyzed by SPSS for descriptive statistics. For each strategy, the mean, standard deviation, and mean percentage were calculated to show teachers and students’ perceptions of MSs and to help in raking them. The data for the open-ended questions were revised manually for common themes. The results of the study support the findings of earlier research with a special emphasis on the culturally specific MSs that are specific for of Saudi university students and their teachers. Based on the results, two lists of MSs for teachers and students are produced and inferences are highlighted. The present study also stresses the importance of catering for students’ perceptions in implementing any teaching strategies as both teachers and students’ perceptions differ.