HOW TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO LEARN ENGLISH: STRATEGIES THAT WORK

This article explores practical and research-based strategies for motivating students to learn English as a second or foreign language. It highlights six core techniques: setting clear and achievable goals, making learning relevant, using technology, fostering a supportive environment, encouraging autonomy, and providing regular feedback and recognition. Drawing on established theories in educational psychology and second language acquisition (particularly the works of Dörnyei, Ushioda, and Hattie), the article emphasizes the need for a learner-centered, context-sensitive approach to teaching. Each strategy is grounded in real classroom applications and is presented in a clear, actionable format, making the article suitable for teachers, curriculum designers, and language education researchers. The work contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for motivational teaching practices and provides a concise synthesis of both theory and pedagogy.