This qualitative study examines amotivation in South Korean EFL students through the lens of activity theory. Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected from six elementary and secondary school students, aged 10 to 16 years (Grades 4 to 10), to explore key psychological constructs, including the ideal L2 self, the ought-to L2 self, the perceived meaning of English learning, parental expectations, and social pressures. The findings reveal that motivation in L2 learning is contextually constructed and often shaped retrospectively rather than serving as a precursor to proficiency. Notably, some students with minimal motivation still achieved high levels of English proficiency, suggesting that motivation is not necessarily an antecedent of L2 success but rather an outcome shaped by broader socioeducational forces. This challenges conventional models that assume a direct causal link between motivation and achievement. The study underscores the importance of contextual and sociohistorical influences in shaping L2 motivation and calls for a reevaluation of the rigid dichotomy between motivated and amotivated learners in competitive educational settings.

Purpose: Grounded on Self-Determination Theory(Deci & Ryan, 2000), the aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal effect of the autonomy-supportive intervention program on student amotivation in the physical education (PE) context. Methods: In the experimentally-based, longitudinal research design, one-hundred twelve students from four classes of two PE teachers were randomly assigned into either the experimental group(n=50) or the control group(n=62). The questionnaires were administered at beginning (Time 1, T1) of and at middle (T2) of the semester. Repeated measure two-way ANOVAs were used to investigate the effects of need-supportive motivating style on student classroom amotivation and academic achievement. Results: As results, students of the teacher in the experimental group showed greater psychological need satisfaction and less PE-specific amotivation-low ability, low effort, unappealing task characteristics, low value, and problematic relationship than did students of the teacher in the control group. Conclusion: These findings showed autonomy-supportive intervention program to prevent students from being amotivated in PE was effective for the teacher to reduce students’ PE-specific amotivation because the teacher could successfully identify, nurture, and develop students’ psychological needs in an autonomy-supportive way.