Exploring Students’ Motivation in Mother Tongue Language through Experiential Learning: A Systematic Review

There has been a decrease in the motivation levels of primary school students towards learning their native language. In Singapore, the native language is also known as the Mother Tongue Language (MTL). There is also a need for more research on Experiential Learning in primary schools worldwide and MTL classrooms in Singapore. Using the basic psychological needs of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), namely autonomy, competence, and relatedness, this research explores the potential of experiential learning as an effective pedagogical tool to foster motivation and learning. Using specific study selection and systematic review methods, 11 empirical papers were selected to study the potential of experiential learning strategies in fostering motivation and learning in primary and secondary school students, focusing mainly on primary school students. The experiential learning strategies in the research papers are categorized into game-based learning using ICT (Information and Communications Technology), imaginative activities, media, perspective-taking, and collaborative learning. While experiential learning strategies in schools fulfill lesser relatedness levels, the findings show that experiential learning can foster motivation in MTL classrooms, as experiential learning strategies could support autonomy and competence satisfaction in students. .