Factors that Influence Participation in English Language Learners at Beginner Level

The purpose of this case study was to describe and discover the factors that influence participation in an English class of beginner level students at the Language Department of the University of Guanajuato. Knowing the factors that motivate or demotivate students´ participation, can help teachers to create strategies and modify aspects in order to increase students´ participation. The data collected for this study was gathered through observation, interviews and questionnaires. This process was carried out from October to December 2023. The three methods were triangulated to get a wider perspective about what factors that influence participation, and how participation is seen by the students. The results of the study suggest that students are aware of the importance of participation in a foreign language classroom. Moreover, results show that students feel free to participate when they are in a safe environment.