The Teachers’ Use of Motivational Strategies in Teaching English at SMA Swasta Imelda Medan

This research was aimed to describe the kinds of motivational strategies used by
the teachers in teaching English at SMA Swasta Imelda Medan and the ways how
the teachers apply the motivational strategies. In this research, the researcher used
descriptive qualitative research design and involved two techniques of collecting
data, they are: observation by observing the learning and teaching process, then
took a note for getting the results which were related to the kinds of motivational
strategies used by the teachers; and interview by asking the English teachers some
questions related to the ways how the teachers apply the motivational strategies.
The data gathered were processed in some stages in the form of data
condensation, data display and drawing conclusion. The participants of this
research were two English teachers of SMA Swasta Imelda Medan and 29 twelfth
grade students. The result of this study showed that the first teacher applied 14
kinds of motivational strategies and the second teacher applied 16 kinds of
motivational strategies. All of the strategies can be grouped into four aspects of
MTP framework based on Dornyei’s theory and the ways how the teachers apply
the strategies in those aspects were various, but similar. For creating basic
motivational condition aspect, the teachers tried to create a proper good behavior
and good relationship toward the students by greeting them cheerfully, showed
enthusiasm, and asked how the students were doing. Then, in generating initial
motivation aspect, the teachers always checked the students’ work to make sure
there was no any obstacle and keep to asking the students’ understanding to the
learning material. Next, for maintaining and protecting motivation aspect, the
teachers presented task in a motivating way by giving the students opportunities to
choose their own topics for the task and exercise. Finally, for encouraging positive
retrospective self-evaluation aspect, the teachers gave a good feedback to the
students by praising them and giving comment to their works.