Improving Students Motivation in Learning Grammar through Interactive Grammar Activities

Authors

  • Muhammad Zulpi Zamzami Universitas Hamzanwadi Author
  • Muhammad Alfian Nur Khair Universitas Hamzanwadi Author
  • M.Mus Universitas Hamzanwadi Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71417/ije.v2i3.1445

Keywords:

Grammar Learning, Interactive Activities, Motivation, Student Engagement

Abstract

Learning grammar is often perceived as difficult and uninteresting by secondary school students, leading to low motivation and limited participation in classroom activities. This study investigated the effectiveness of interactive grammar activities in improving students’ motivation in learning grammar. The research was conducted in an nineth-grade class at SMP Islam Darul Muttaqien nwdi serijata, Desa Perian using observation, questionnaires, and interviews. The results revealed that students showed moderate participation but low enthusiasm at the beginning of the lesson. Questionnaire data from 24 students indicated strong interest in English and a high desire for interactive learning, although most students struggled with grammar rules and lacked confidence. Interviews supported these findings, showing that students considered grammar difficult and were discouraged by a noisy class environment. However, they expressed positive attitudes toward engaging activities such as games, discussion, and practice-based tasks. Overall, the findings suggest that interactive grammar activities have strong potential to enhance students’ motivation by increasing their involvement and reducing anxiety during grammar learning.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alamer, A., & Lee, J. (2021). A motivational model of EFL learners’ engagement in classroom learning: The roles of self-determined motivation and task value. System, 98, 102481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102481

Al-Harbi, S. S. (2020). Exploring EFL learners’ perceptions of grammar learning difficulties. English Language Teaching, 13(8), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v13n8p1

Al-Hoorie, A. H., Vitta, J. P., & Dörnyei, Z. (2022). The motivation foundation of language learning: The L2 motivational self system. The Modern Language Journal, 106(2), 332–350. https://doi.org/10.1111/modl.12770

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Dörnyei, Z., & Ryan, S. (2015). The psychology of the language learner revisited. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315779553

Ellis, R. (2020). Task-based language teaching: Theory and practice. Cambridge University Press.

Ellis, R., & Shintani, N. (2019). Exploring language pedagogy through second language acquisition research. Routledge.

Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11

Hilmi, A. (2025). Pembelajaran bahasa Inggris sebagai komponen utama dalam pendidikan nasional. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa.

Jean, G., & Simard, D. (2022). Grammar teaching and learning in second language classrooms: A review of recent research. Language Teaching Research, 26(3), 451–470. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820957007

Kallio, H., Pietilä, A.-M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide: A systematic methodological review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(12), 2954–2965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031

Kirkpatrick, A. (2021). The Routledge handbook of world Englishes (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2021). Teaching grammar. In M. Celce-Murcia, D. Brinton, & M. Snow (Eds.), Teaching English as a second or foreign language (4th ed., pp. 256–270). National Geographic Learning.

Larsen-Freeman, D., & Anderson, M. (2021). Techniques and principles in language teaching (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Long, M. H. (2021). Second language acquisition and task-based language teaching. Wiley-Blackwell.

Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Mystkowska-Wiertelak, A. (2022). Learner engagement in instructed second language acquisition. Language Teaching Research, 26(2), 325–347. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820912415

Nassaji, H. (2020). The role of explicit instruction in second language learning. Language Teaching Research, 24(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820932408

Nuryamin, Y. (2016). Teachers’ understanding of students’ needs in English language learning. Journal of Education and Learning, 10(2), 120–128.

Oga-Baldwin, W. L. Q., Fryer, L. K., & Larson-Hall, J. (2020). The role of motivation in learner engagement. System, 95, 102382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102382

Papi, M., & Khajavy, G. H. (2021). Motivational mechanisms underlying second language achievement. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 43(2), 343–370. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263120000315

Sato, M. (2020). Interaction mindsets and engagement in grammar learning. Applied Linguistics, 41(4), 567–592. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amz012

Sato, M., & Loewen, S. (2019). Do learners benefit from interaction-driven grammar instruction? Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 41(4), 873–897. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263119000188

Sulistiyo, U. (2020). English as a foreign language in Indonesia: A review of policy and practice. Lingua Cultura, 14(1), 1–8.

Teimouri, Y., Plonsky, L., & Tabandeh, F. (2020). L2 grit and grammar learning. System, 90, 102214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102214

Wragg, E. C. (2018). An introduction to classroom observation (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315391236

Zhang, X., & Zou, D. (2022). Gamified grammar learning in EFL classrooms. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35(5–6), 1091–1115. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2020.1825091.

Published

2026-01-11

How to Cite

Improving Students Motivation in Learning Grammar through Interactive Grammar Activities. (2026). Indonesian Journal Of Education, 2(3), 591-595. https://doi.org/10.71417/ije.v2i3.1445

Similar Articles

1-10 of 92

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.