English Teacher Motivation that Focuses on Need: A Case Study of the Foreign Language School of Linyi Normal University in China

Abstract

This study explored the need factors in English teachers’ motivation by comparing the needs that motivate teachers of different genders, ages and years of experience. This study used a questionnaire to collect data random sample of 95 of the population of 111 English teachers in the Foreign Language School of Linyi Normal University. It was found that the ranking of need factors for teachers, in descending order of importance, were responsibility, relationship, self-realization, esteem, life and power. There was no significant difference between male and female teachers for the six factors. One factor, the need for relationship, differed by age in that 35-44 year-old and ≥ 45 year-old teachers had significantly higher mean scores than 25-34 year-old teachers. There were also significant differences in relationship need based on years of experience, with teachers who held more than 15 years of experience having a higher mean score than the teachers who had have 0-5 years or 6-10 years of experience. It was concluded that, as teachers grow older and have more teaching experience, they have an in increasing need to develop relationships with their colleagues and students.

Keywords : Teacher motivation, Foreign Language, English language, China