Dropping out of a Tefl program : a study on internal factors

Abstract

The current explanatory-qualitative study focuses on individual factors as a cause of the dropping out phenomenon of a specific undergraduate program. The topic of higher education students’ desertion has received considerable attention, since it is a serious problem in Colombia. This study wants to understand why in a Teaching English as a Foreign Language program (TEFL) over 25% of the admitted, drop out of the program at some point. This research reviews the literature on dropping out and brings comparative data from two TEFL programs in Bogotá, Colombia. According to (Hummel, 2014), these factors play an important role when learning a second language: intelligence, aptitude, attitudes, motivation, personality, learning style, cognitive style, and learning strategies. This investigation focuses on attitudes, motivation, and language learning strategies. Based on these three factors this work addresses13 cases that typify the university desertion and examines each case based on ex classmates who interrupted their bachelor’s degree in the last four years. The information gathered using action – research method through surveys was crucial to find constant causes and propose solutions to program management along with the faculty.