The impact of teachers’ motivational strategies on enhancing pupils’ motivation to learn English in Tanzania

Purpose The study aims to examine how teachers’ motivational strategies influence Tanzanian primary school pupils’ motivation to learn English. It specifically identified and evaluated the impact of these strategies on pupils’ motivated behaviours during English language learning. Design/methodology/approach The study involved 40 English language teachers from 20 selected primary schools in Morogoro, Tanzania. Data were collected through non-participant classroom observations and interviews. Quantitative analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 to produce descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative analysis was based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis framework. Findings The results indicate that teachers used various motivational strategies, with the most frequent strategies including breaking classroom monotony, increasing pupils’ expectancy of success, demonstrating enthusiasm, promoting learner autonomy, recognising and appreciating success, administering tasks in a motivating manner and providing regular experiences of success. Many of these strategies were aimed at sustaining pupils’ motivation. The study also found a strong correlation between teachers’ motivational strategies and pupils’ motivated behaviours, with positive multiple regressions indicating a significant impact. Research limitations/implications The study reports on the immediate impact of teachers’ motivational strategies on enhancing pupils’ motivation to learn English based on findings collected using a cross-sectional design. Originality/value The paper addresses the knowledge gap in using motivational strategies to engage young learners in classroom interactions. It answers Lamb’s (2017) call to analyse foreign language learners’ and teachers’ classroom experiences. The research reports on classroom observations in Tanzania, focusing on teachers’ use of motivational strategies and their results in motivating pupils to learn English.