Internal motivation vs. learning environment support in EFL : evidence from students with diverse learning needs across four European countries

Karatsiori, Marianthi (author), Liontou, Trisevgeni (author), Domagała-Zyśk, Ewa (author), Poredoš, Mojca (author), Košak Babuder, Milena (author), Vogt, Karin (author)

This mixed-methods study explores the relationship between internal motivation and learning environment support in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms among students with diverse learning needs across four European contexts. Ninety-five students with visual, hearing, mobility impairments, or specific learning difficulties participated. Drawing on quantitative data from the Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale and qualitative interviews, the study examines how teacher support, peer collaboration, and technological tools shape learners’ experiences. While both teacher and peer support significantly predict internal motivation, the strength and nature of this relationship vary depending on the type of learning need. In particular, teacher support was most influential for students with visual impairments and learning difficulties, while peer support played a greater role for students with hearing and mobility support needs. Notably, students’ motivation often appeared to be independent of classroom-based support, with family encouragement emerging as a key informal driver. The study also identifies critical gaps in assistive technology training and access, with many students reporting limited instruction and inconsistent technical support. Students emphasized the need for accessible digital materials, flexible assessment strategies, and better-prepared teachers. Qualitative findings highlight preferences for structured environments, multimodal learning, and varied collaboration formats—individual, pair, or group—depending on students’ specific support needs and classroom contexts. These results point to the need for targeted teacher education, inclusive pedagogical design, and sustained systemic efforts to ensure equity in language learning for students with diverse profiles.

• Language: English
• Keywords: foreign language learning, diverse learning needs, internal motivation, teacher support, peer support, assistive technologies, cross-national study, teacher and peer support
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: PEF - Faculty of Education
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 23 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, art. 1569323
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170860
• UDC: 373.5:81
• ISSN on article: 2504-284X
• DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1569323
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243069699
• Publication date in RUL: 18.07.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in education
• Shortened title: Front. educ.
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2504-284X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 526812697

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: notranja motivacija, tuji jeziki, učno okolje, učne potrebe, učiteljeva podpora, vrstniška podpora, podporne tehnologije, angleščina, učenje

Projects

• Funder: IKY - Greece, State Scholarships Foundation
• Project number: 2022-1-EL01-KA220-SCH-000089364
• Name: Supporting Foreign Language Learning for Students with Disabilities
• Acronym: SPLENDID

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: Erasmus+
• Name: Supporting Foreign Language Learning for Students with Disabilities
• Acronym: SPLENDID