A critical examination of motivation in the Omani English language education system

Abstract

This study asks questions and elicits answers about the factors that influence E/FL motivation in the Sultanate of Oman from a critical perspective. It triangulates data from semi-structured interviews made with different informants involved in the Omani English language teaching (ELT) system and representing different social, cultural, and academic backgrounds, the Philosophy and Guidelines for the Omani English Language School Curriculum (Nunan, Walton, & Tyacke, 1987) - herewith referred to as the National English Language Policy/Plan (NELP), the pertinent literature and the national textbook Our world Through English (OWTE). The critical discussion has revealed variable ideologies and statements about various factors influencing motivation for learning F/EL. The findings of this study have their direct and important implications for other similar F/EL planning and policy contexts. © 2014 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.