Demotivating Factors in Learning English: A Case of Students in Tra Vinh University, Vietnam

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate the impact of internal and external factors on learners' demotivation in learning English and if gender affected learners' demotivating factors. The participants included 100 non-English majors at Tra Vinh university. The questionnaire was the only instrument focussing on internal and external factors. The study showed that internal factors had more impact on learners than external ones. For internal factors, learners were affected by the following items such as unclear study target, not being interested in English, their poor English and not achieving an ideal mark in tests. Concerning external factors, learners were influenced by inexperienced and not easy-going teachers, the overcrowded classrooms, and lack of using multimedia resources. Regarding gender, the finding indicated that there was no relationship between gender and learners' demotivating factors.