The Impact of Integrating Interest with Instructional Materials on Iraqi EFL learners’ Grammar Achievement: Focus on Learners’ Interest and Anxiety

Affective variables play a really important role in the language learning process. Interest and anxiety are some of the emotional features, affecting language learning in general and grammar achievement in particular. This research focused on the impact of using interesting instructional materials on the grammar achievement and interest level in the EFL context. The investigation further tried to find whether selecting the reading materials based on learners’ preference had any influence on the leaners’ anxiety level. To answer the research questions, a mixed-methods design was adopted based on the nature of the questions. The experimental group was taught with interest-based units, while the control group used traditional syllabus units. Participants were evaluated before and after the intervention with grammar tests, interest surveys, and an anxiety questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS to identify differences in grammar achievement, interest, and anxiety levels. It was revealed that the employment of interest in selecting class materials helped learners have better performance in grammar achievement. Furthermore, it was shown that learners’ interest level significantly grew as a result of using materials based on learners' preferences. The results also indicated that learners' anxiety level reduced due to the employment of attractive materials for teaching. EFL teachers are recommended to consider learners' interests in order to create more engaging materials and improve learning outcomes.