Factors that motivate and demotivate Greek EFL teachers

Abstract

Many claims have been made in the available literature that teachers need stimulation and motivation as well as students to do a good job, claiming that there are many factors that promote teachers’ motivation. The purpose of this paper is to study the factors that motivate or demotivate 52 Greek EFL teachers working for Private Language Schools in Athens, Greece and to frame the current EFL teachers’ motivation. In addition, it attempts to explore the teachers’ opinions towards important to TEFL issues. A review of the available literature is provided in order for the reader to be informed about the teachers’ motivation topic research in general. Then, based upon the responses of a questionnaire - which is appended– the teachers’ ideas in relation to the factors that motivate and demotivate them are presented. The findings of this study show that the factor that influences the most EFL teachers’ motivation is the fact that they work with young people whereas the factor that demotivates them the most is monetary rewards that their job offers them. The paper concludes with some suggestions that principals/ employers or others related to teacher recruiting and maintenance can use in order to establish those situations where teachers will be as highly motivated as possible towards their profession.