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Volume 4 Number 1, Spring 2007, Pages 1-200   


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Demotivation: Understanding Resistance to English Language Learning - The Case of Vietnamese Students

    Tran Thi Thu Trang and Richard B. Baldauf Jr.


Demotivation in English language learning was investigated, using Vietnam as a case study, with three main foci: (i) the reasons (i.e., the demotives) underlying demotivation; (ii) the degree of influence of different demotives; and (iii) students' experiences in overcoming demotivation. Using stimulated recall essays from 100 university students of their foreign language learning experiences, the findings indicated that demotivation was a significant issue for EFL learning, and a framework for discussing different sources of demotives was developed. While some categories of demotives occurred more frequently than others, no category appeared to be more or less difficult to overcome. Rather, students' awareness of the role English language and their determination to succeed were critical factors in overcoming demotivation.