Abstract
Now in the English education programs of Japanese universities, there is an urgent need to assist students who have not studied English positively and seriously for a long time. In order to assist the students move away from their long demotivated state, what teachers should do first is to know such students well. In Tsuchiya (2004b), nine demotivating factors of Japanese university students concerning English study were proposed. They are 1) reduced self-confidence, 2) classes, 3) compulsory nature of English study, 4) ways of learning, 5) teachers, 6) negative group attitude, 7) negative attitude toward English itself, 8) lack of positive English speaking model, and 9) negative attitude toward English community. In this article, an English class, which is usually regarded as a group of low achievement and low motivated students turned out not to be such a group. The class was divided into four groups based on those nine demotivating factors. The characteristics of each group are discussed in detail, comparing strong and weak degrees of each factor with the results of a background questionnaire in which the students were asked about their past experiences and learning environment of English. An implication for future classroom management is also suggested.
