Investigation of the factors that demotivate eap learners at a foundation university

This study investigates the demotivation levels of junior and senior students enrolled in a general English course at a foundation university in Türkiye, who have not undergone a preparatory class. Additionally, it examines whether demotivation levels vary based on demographic variables, including age, gender, high school type, and university study year. Adopting a mixed methods approach, the research utilizes both surveys and semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample of 104 students and conducts interviews with 15 participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS 29 and content analysis. The findings highlight the complexity of demotivation resulting from a combination of internal, external, and contextual factors. The quantitative analysis reveals a significant difference in demotivation levels between female and male students, with female students reporting higher levels of demotivation. However, no statistically significant differences are found based on the students' year of study or high school type. The qualitative findings generated five main factors influencing students' demotivation: curriculum and instruction, learner attitudes and characteristics, teacher attitudes, learning environment and facilities, and institutional policies and course policies. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of demotivation in English language courses and offers practical implications for educators and policymakers to address and alleviate the challenges faced by students in their language learning journey.