A comparative case study on English language teacher motivation across the career span

Motivation is the energy that drives people to do something willingly. It is the most essential factor for learners to determine and achieve their goals. Not only is it crucial for students, but also for teachers. In English Language Teaching (ELT), teacher motivation is essential in generating pleasant learning environments for students, since improvement in teacher motivation has benefits for students as well as teachers. Although it is known that teacher motivation is important for effective teaching and professional development, there is a need to conduct more research on this topic. Therefore, the current study explores the factors affecting EFL teachers' motivation across career spans (early, mid, and late-career). This research seeks to define the factors (intrinsic and extrinsic factors) that motivate and demotivate EFL teachers at different career stages in Türkiye. The study examines the 6 EFL teachers' motivation levels regarding intrinsic and extrinsic factors through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that early-mid and late-career teachers put greater emphasis on the institutional recognition, appreciation, and learner engagement, while severe workload, excessive demands from institutions and parents are key demotivators for experienced teachers. Findings also reveal that these kinds of factors' effects change from teacher to teacher and experience levels. Moreover, the current study seeks to shed light on new motivational strategies for EFL teachers and various seminars.