Determinants of Persistence:  A Study of Motivation and Perseverance in EFL Learning Contexts

Marvin C. Rotula

doi:10.58837/CHULA.PPJ.41.7

ผู้แต่ง

Marvin C. Rotula Liberal Arts & Management Sciences, English for Business Communication Program, Prince of Songkhla University, Surat Thani, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58837/CHULA.PPJ.41.7

คำสำคัญ:

EFL learning, motivation, perseverance, adolescent learners, language pedagogy

บทคัดย่อ

This study examines the levels and patterns of motivation and perseverance in learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) among students aged 14 to 16 at a non-English-speaking school in Southern Thailand. A total of 60 high school students participated in a questionnaire assessing instrumental, intrinsic and integrative motivation, as well as perseverance. The findings indicate that students demonstrate high levels of motivation, particularly in relation to career goals and self-development. Perseverance levels were also generally high, although slightly lower than the motivation scores, suggesting that students may experience difficulty sustaining long-term effort despite strong initial motivation. These findings highlight the need for instructional strategies that not only enhance motivation but also support sustained engagement over time. The study also observed that gender and grade level differences with female and older students exhibited higher levels of both motivation and perseverance. These results suggest the need for more targeted approaches in EFL instruction. Integrating career-oriented content, promoting self-learning, and using real-life materials can help facilitate students’ motivation. Furthermore, providing structured support for long-term goal-setting and fostering growth mindset strategies may enhance perseverance. This research highlights the importance of EFL teaching adaptations to better address the motivational and perseverance related challenges inherent to adolescent learners.

ประวัติผู้แต่ง

Marvin C. Rotula, Liberal Arts & Management Sciences, English for Business Communication Program, Prince of Songkhla University, Surat Thani, Thailand

Marvin Rotula (marvin.r@psu.ac.th) is an accomplished educator with a diverse teaching portfolio encompassing courses in language, communication arts and management. He has two decades of teaching experience across different student level from kindergarten students up to university students. He is a full-time member of the faculty of Liberal Arts & Management Sciences from Prince of Songkhla University – Surat Thani campus.

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