ResearchontheNegativeMotivationofHighSchoolStudents

【Abstract】Negative motivation is a common phenomenon in English learning. Thus， the author investigates the factors affecting the negative motivation of English learning among 40 students in his class. There are 2 internal and 2 external factors which affected their learning interests. Therefore， the author hopes that this study can arouse the attention of educators and students in order to overcome or reduce the negative motivation and improve English achievement.

【Key words】negative motivation； English learning

【作者簡介】馬伊妃，遼寧省錦州市錦州中學(xué)。

1. Concept of negative motivation and its influencing factors

Negative motivation means a decrease in learning motivation caused directly by the negative effects of external factors or by negative changes in internal factors caused by external factors （Zhou cibo， 2012）. The results show that there are 2 types of internal factors （lack of effective learning strategies， negative effects of learning concepts） and 2 external factors （learning content and task difficulty， Examination and teachers performance factors）.

2. Analysis of negative motivation factors in high school English learners

2.1 Lacking of learning strategies

Student A said that "I recite words and do exercises over and over again every day. I don't like this way， but I don't know what better way to do it.” The lack of learning strategies may make it impossible for learners to choose suitable learning methods， and they can only memorize by rote. As a result， they tend to be time-consuming and inefficient， and gradually become tired of learning English， thus inducing negative motivation. Student B said "my English teacher doesn't interact with us， and doesnt care if we understand or not， if we grasp the methods in class" High school English classes are usually teacher-oriented and lack the cultivation of students' awareness of English learning strategies. Once students can not effectively use strategies to solve the difficulties encountered in learning， they will have anxiety and frustration.

2.2 Negative effects of learning ideas

Negative attitude to English learning is an important reason for the decrease of learners' motivation. Student C said， "I just don't understand why we Chinese people must to learn a foreign language." this shows that their interest in English learning have been reduced because of their cultural identity and respect for China. Therefore， there is no strong motivation for English learning. As student D said， "I really can't see what English has to do with my life， except for the exam" because they have few chance to use English in real life， and their English proficiency has no obvious influence on their future development and employment， thus affecting their judgment on the social importance of English learning.

2.3 Learning content and task difficulty

Student E said "English learning is only to do words and grammars exercises， really do not like it"， which shows that the various homework caused students been tired of English learning. And once they are frustrated， it will results in the decrease of their self-confidence and motivation for English learning. Student F said " I only want to learn pronunciation and oral English well”， which shows that the mismatch between the learning content and the students' needs also makes them have a negative psychology， which further weakens the motivation of English learning. Besides， The difficulty of vocabulary and grammar learning is also an important inducement of negative motivation， because words are so hard to remember， and grammars are so difficult to grasp， students are fear of them.

2.4 Examinations and teachers performance factors

Student G said： "my parents and teachers just told me how important English is to the college entrance examination， which made me very stressed" which shows that examination is a huge social pressure on students. However， exam-oriented education neglects the cultivation of students' interest in English learning， and passive learning makes them under great psychological pressure. Once they can not get the desired results in the exam， they will lose confidence and even lose the motivation to learn English. Student H said "Each time when he doesnt doing well in the exam， he is afraid of been scolded by his teacher”， it shows that teachers attitude and criticism towards students， will affect their enthusiasm for English learning，because they are not mature enough to treat them rationally.

3. summary

In all， it is suggested that teachers should pay attention to the cultivation of students' awareness of learning strategies in the process of English teaching in view of the lacking of learning strategies. And attention should be paid to guide students to set up correct values of English learning， to understand the changes of students' attitudes and concepts towards English learning and to help them eliminate negative emotions in time.