Motivation of EFL teachers: Theory of motivation and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors

Abstract

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation factors of EFL instructors at tertiary level: A pilot study Unlike learner motivation, motivation of teachers’ have been regarded as a neglected construct in the literature. “Motivation explains why people decide to do something, how hard they are going to pursue it and how hard they are willing to sustain the activity” (Dörnyei 2001, p. 7). The motivation of teachers has been regarded as a multi-faceted construct which includes intrinsic and extrinsic factors regarding the teachers’ job settings. While people do activities for intrinsic rewards doing the activity as itself, extrinsic motivation relates to some other factors such as financial rewards external doing the job itself. The intrinsic and extrinsic factors are related to Self determination theory, expectancy theory, flow theory, self efficacy and goal setting theory. In this paper a brief information and a pilot study of what motivates EFL instructors intrinsically and extrinsically will be elaborated. The overall results implied that EFL instructors were intrinsically motivated and the contextual factors affect the EFL instructors which is in line with the current literature.