Enriching Teacher Motivation by Improving Teacher Education: Inclusive and Reflective Training

Teacher motivation plays a crucial role in the learning and teaching of languages. Despite its importance, research on language teacher motivation is limited. On a different note, research on teacher education (TE) has exposed the ineffective preparation of teachers for the reality of the classroom. This chapter will discuss implications for language teacher training programs by establishing a link between teacher motivation and TE. This qualitative investigation was conducted in secondary state schools in Spain, and 23 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers participated. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore teacher demotivation to teach EFL, which in turn was associated to teachers' lack of training in inclusive and reflective practices. The findings revealed the demotivating influence of these two areas and explored how these could be tackled in TE while accounting for teachers' needs. By enhancing teacher training, the language classroom could become an inclusive and reflective space for young learners and teachers.