Understanding Pre-Service EFL Teachers' Motivation for Choosing Teaching as a Career

Abstract

A crucial factor that could potentially support the provision of high-quality educators is their motivation. This study explored the motivation of pre-service EFL teachers for choosing teaching as a career from one university in Indonesia. Employing qualitative descriptive design, this study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from two pre-service EFL teachers. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings from the study showed that pre-service EFL teachers chose teaching as a profession due to their desire in social value such as making social contributions, to shape the future of children and adolescents, and their willingness to work with children and adolescents. The study further showed that personal influences and socialization influences were their source of motivation to choose teaching, along with intrinsic value and self-perceptions. Based on the findings, motivation plays a crucial part in teaching in order to generate good motivation and provide optimal education for students.