While many language teachers leave the profession early, others thrive and teach until retirement. Understanding how these teachers maintain their passion can help identify the support needed for their personal and professional growth. However, research on the factors behind their sustained happiness in the teaching profession is limited. The main objective of this qualitative study was to explore the beliefs and career stories of three recently retired German language teachers in Norway, recognized for their long‐term motivation and effective teaching over several decades. Data were generated from in‐depth semistructured interviews and analyzed through the lens of self‐determination theory. The analysis revealed that the teachers shared several key characteristics. First, they enjoyed a high degree of autonomy related to the choice of subject content and teaching approaches. Second, they perceived themselves as highly competent in the subject and expressed a passion for it. Third, they cherished being with students and managed to establish good relationships with them. The findings suggest that teachers should be aware of their basic psychological needs and reflect on how they can be fulfilled. Furthermore, school administrators should foster trust in teachers as autonomous professionals and actively support their competency development and relationships with students and colleagues.

中文翻译：

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了解支持语言教师直到退休为止的持续动力的因素

虽然许多语言教师很早就离开了这个职业，但也有一些人一直在教书直到退休。了解这些教师如何保持热情可以帮助确定他们的个人和职业成长所需的支持。然而，对教师职业持续幸福感背后因素的研究却很有限。这项定性研究的主要目的是探索挪威三名最近退休的德语教师的信仰和职业故事，他们几十年来因长期的动力和有效的教学而受到认可。数据是通过深入的半结构化访谈生成的，并通过自我决定理论的视角进行分析。分析显示，这些教师有几个共同的关键特征。首先，他们在学科内容和教学方法的选择上享有高度的自主权。其次，他们认为自己在该学科上非常有能力并表达了对此的热情。三是珍惜与学生的相处，与学生建立了良好的关系。研究结果表明，教师应该意识到他们的基本心理需求，并思考如何满足这些需求。此外，学校管理者应培养对教师作为自主专业人士的信任，并积极支持他们的能力发展以及与学生和同事的关系。