ICT as a tool and a resource in teaching English : A study of teachers’ motivations and attitudes towards using ICT in the English classroom

Abstract: This study examines what motivates language teachers in primary school to use ICT and what attitudes they have towards ICT. Six teachers working in four different Swedish primary schools between the first and third grade were interviewed. The teachers actively used some kind of ICT resource during their English lessons. The study showed that external factors such as requirements from the school and local school authorities motivate teachers to work more actively with ICT. These external motivators can influence the teacher’s perception and use of ICT in both positive and negative ways. When it comes to internal factors that affect the teachers’ motivation to use ICT in English, the most important factor is whether they consider ICT tools to be a positive addition to their teaching and whether a good balance between digital and traditional tools can be achieved to accommodate every student’s need.