Possible selves, motivation, and classroom practices: A qualitative enquiry with english teachers in dhaka, bangladesh

Abstract

Studies around the world show that students’ motivation for learning English as a foreign language is usually interconnected with teachers’ motivation. To explore this relationship, this study investigated five Bangladeshi EFL teachers’ early language learning experiences, their visions of possible L2 selves, their motivations for becoming English teachers and the way they connect their visions with their classroom teaching for motivating students. This study employed L2 Motivational Self System (Dorney, 2005, 2009) as the theoretical framework. It was situated in the constructivist paradigm using a qualitative approach taking the form of a narrative enquiry. Data was collected from teachers’ language biographies and in-depth interviews. The thematic analysis of data revealed teachers’ considerable academic and socio-cultural challenges, their improved motivational states and visions of either ‘Ideal L2 Self’ or ‘L2 Learning Experiences’. Teachers with ‘Ideal L2 Selves’ were found more aware of generating students’ L2 vision. The study also found a considerable influence of social, economic, psychological, infrastructural, and cultural factors on teachers’ professional motivation and commitment. Therefore, the study has brought implications for addressing these factors at an institutional and political level to bring about attitudinal change towards teaching as a profession in Bangladesh.