The Effectiveness of Tutorial Sessions in Raising ESP Learners' Motivation The Case of PhD Learners at the Social Sciences Department – Larbi Tebessi University - Tebessa

Abstract

Students need primarily to be motivated in order for their engagement to be increased. Indeed, motivation to learn requires an effective teaching/learning method. For that reason, this research is, specifically, designed to attest the effectiveness of tutorial sessions in raising ESP learners' motivation; in particular, it targeted PhD learners at the Department of Social Sciences at Larbi Tebessi University and their tutor. Accordingly, three assumptions underlie this research. First, it was assumed that learners consider this method to be effective for raising their motivation. Second, it was estimated that tutors find the method effective in raising learners’ motivation because they are constantly involved and they learn in small groups. Third, the tutor is assumed to support the implementation of tutorial sessions in teaching ESP learners of all levels. To reach this end, a descriptive research design has been adopted, and data were analyzed using a mixed-method approach. A questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale was used to collect data; it was later analyzed statistically. It was administered to 12 PhD learners, who were taught for six sessions, in semester one, in the form of tutorial sessions. Additionally, a structured interview was conducted with their tutor. The statistical analysis of the questionnaire in terms of frequencies, percentages, mean values and standard deviations, together with the qualitative analysis of the interview led to confirming the first and the last hypotheses. The second one, however, was partially confirmed, since the interviewee believes that the small number of students per class is regarded as an obstacle that hinders learners' motivation. Thus, it sounds that both learners and their tutor welcome the implementation of this method. They find it effective for the teaching-learning process since it makes learners highly interested and enthusiastic. To conclude, learning in tutorial sessions is truly valuable for increasing learners' motivation, and it is extremely recommended.