Attitudes and Motivation of Non-English Major Students Towards Learning English as a Foreign Language: A Case Study
Keywords:
Attitudes, Motivation, EFL, Language LearningAbstract
The aim of this research is to identify attitudes and motivation of non-English major students towards learning English as a foreign language. The respondents were first year undergraduate students majoring in Public Health within the Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Thaksin University, Phatthalung Campus in the 2013 academic year. As quantitative research, the questionnaire adapted from Gardner’s Attitudes/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) (Gardner, 1985) was employed as a tool to collect data in order to find out students’ motivational orientations in terms of instrumental and integrative motivation as well as their interests and attitudes towards learning English language. The data obtained from the questionnaire was calculated and analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Findings show that the majority of the students are surprisingly highly interested in learning English as a foreign language because they want to read the literature of a foreign language in the original language rather than a translation ( = 4.40, SD = 0.81). In addition, although they are non-English major students, they have a very strong desire to learn English until it becomes natural for them (
= 4.54, SD = 0.66). Furthermore, most of the students hold positive attitudes towards learning English language. Similarly, even though they are primarily motivated to learn English due to instrumental reason (“studying can be important to me because I think it will someday be useful in getting good jobs”,
= 4.48, SD = 0.57), the results also show their high motivation towards learning English language because of some integrative reasons.
References
Degang, M. (2010). Motivation towards English Language Learning of the Second Year Undergrate Thai Students Majoring in Business English at an English-Medium University. M.A. Project, Graduate School, Srinakharinwirot University.
Dornyei, Z.N. (1998). Motivation in second language and foreign language learning. Language Teaching. Vol. 31 (03), 177-135
Gardner, R.C. (1979). Social psychological aspects of second language acquisition. In H. Giles & St. Claire, R. (Eds). Language and social psychology (pp. 193-220). Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Gardner, R.C. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
Iddou-Derraz, N. (2009). Reasons for Unsuccessful English Learning in Algeria. Hassiba Ben Bouali University. Retrieved (8 Jul 2013) from: http://www.univ-chlef.dz/ratsh/RATSH_AR/Article_Revue_Academique_N_01_2009/article_09.pdf
Kitjaroonchai, N. (2013). Motivation Toward English Language Learning of Students in Secondary and High Schools in Education Service Area Office 4, Saraburi Province, Thailand. International Journal of Language and Linguistics. Vol. 1(1), 22-33.
Masgoret, A. M. and Gardner, R. C. (2003). Attitudes, Motivation, and Second Language Learning: A Meta–Analysis of Studies Conducted by Gardner and Associates. Language Learning. Vol. 53, 123–163.
Pengnate, W. (2012). Motivation, Attitude and English Learning Behaviours of the lowgraded Students. Retrieved from: http://cgel.tni.ac.th/new/upload/files/pdf/km/ICBIR2012p.177-ID132.pdf
Prapphal, K. (2003). English proficiency of Thai learners and directions of English teaching and learning in Thailand. Journal of English Studies 1, Vol. 1(2003), 6-12.
Rungruangsuparat, B. (2012). Attitudes towards world Englishes of undergratduate students in internatinal program of tourism and hospitality manangment in Thailand. M.A. Thesis in Langauge and Culture for Communication and Development, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University.
Root, E. (1999). Motivation and Learning Strategies in a Foreign Langauge Setting: A Look at a Learner of Korean. Retreived from http://www.carla.umn.edu/resources/workingpapers/documents/WP14_Learner_of_Korean.pdf
Sayadian, S. and Lashkarian, A. (2010). Investigating Attitude And Motivation Of Iranian University Learners Toward English As A Foreign Language. Contemporary Issues In Education Research. Vol. 3 (1), 138-147.
Schemidt. R., Boraie, D. and Kassabgy. O. (1996). Foreign language motivation: internal structure and external connections. In R. L. Oxford (Ed.). Language and learning motivation: pathways to the new century, 9-70. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.
Spolsky, B. (1969). Attitudinal aspects of second langauge learning. Language Learning. Vol.19, 217-283.
Tahaineh, Y. and Daana, H. (2012). Jordanian Undergraduates’ Motivations and Attitudes towards Learning English in EFL Context. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities. Vol. 4, No. 2 (2013), 159-180.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
1 All articles will undergo a formal peer-review. A panel of experts from within or without the university will examine the article; approval from a minimum of two experts is required for publication. Revisions posed by the experts must be completed by the research prior to publication.
2 Once published in the ASEAN Journal of Education, the article becomes intellectual property of Suan Dusit University. Duplication, in full or part, requires permission from Suan Dusit University.
3 Excluding errors incurred during printing, author(s) are responsible for the content of their articles.
