چکیده:
Educational Studies: J. Coll. Educ., King Saud Univ., Vol. 3, pp. 1-10 (1986)
EFL Motivation in the Saudi Public Schools: Prob-
lem, Causes and Solutions
Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Abdan
Assistant Professor, Center for European Languages and
Translation, College of Arts, King Saud University, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
This paper discusses the effect of the motivational factor on the process of
teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in the Saudi public schools. I1
suggests that the decline or lack of motivation to study EFL by students in
these schools is one of the main factors causing their low achievement in this
foreign language (FL). The writer maintains that the status of the mother
tongue, nature of the society, lack of awareness of the goals and needs of
EFL in Saudi Arabia. and the unpleasant experiences of studying EFL in
the Saudi public schools are among the important reasons and causes that
have led 1o the decline or Jack of motivation in this regard. After classifying
EFL. motivation in the Saudi Public Schools into long-term and short-term
motivation, the paper proceeds to suggest some solutions for the problem
under discussion.
There are different factors affecting achievement in foreign language (FL) learn-
ing such as age, sex, aptitude, and many others). However. the present paper
focuses on the effect of the motivational factor with a special reference to the si-
tuation of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in the Saudi public
schools. In particular, it attempts to suggest that the decline or lack of motivation
to study EFL among many of the Saudi students in the public schools is one of the
main factors that cause their underachievement in this FL. Then the paper en-
deavours to discuss and explore the causes involved in this problem of EFL low
motivation and tries to propose some solutions for it.