AN INVESTIGATION OF EFL TEACHERS’ MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES IN TEACHING SPEAKING LESSONS TO GRADE TEN STUDENTS: THE CASE OF BETMARA COMPREHNESIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the EFL teachers’ motivational strategies in teaching speaking skills with particular reference of the Bet Mara comprehensive Secondary School grade 10 students in focus. To achieve the objective, a descriptive design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. The subjects of the study were three English language teachers and thirty-six students from the selected secondary school. All the three EFL teachers were taken using available sampling technique to participate in observations and interviews. As for the student samples, the researcher employed simple random sampling technique to involve in questionnaires. Data were gathered through observation, interview and questionnaire. The findings of the research depicted that the EFL teachers of the selected school focused on very limited traditional teaching strategies; using common techniques like pair discussion, group discussion and group works, excessive use of mother tongue, preference of vocabulary and grammar than speaking, teacher - centered way of teaching like lecturing than letting students to learn by interactions and absence of appropriate teaching aids. In light of the recommendations, first teachers should raise the learners’ interest and motivation in learning speaking by creating comfortable learning atmosphere, making students work in group to help each other. Besides, teachers should strive to use only English in speaking classes. Furthermore, the teachers are required to encourage students to participate in speaking skill classes using different motivational strategies such as providing variety and challenging speaking activities, following up and appreciating students work accompanied by periodical and constructive feedback. In general, teachers need to play their professional roles as a promoter, an assistant, as a facilitator and consultant to build up their students’ motivation to speak..