Attitudes of Nursing and Business Students of Asia-Pacific International University Towards English Language Learning
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Abstract
This study sought to investigate the attitudes towards English language learning of nursing and business students at Asia-Pacific International University. It looked into difficult language learning skills as perceived by the students and examined the significant correlation between academic achievement (GPA) and attitudinal level. The subjects were 275 students comprising 214 students from the Faculty of Nursing and 61 students from the Faculty of Business Administration who enrolled in general English courses. The research instrument used in this study was a modified 20-item attitude survey adapted from Gardner’s (1985) Attitude/ Motivation Test Battery (AMTB). The data was analysed using SPSS version 16 and the significant correlation was analysed using Two-Sample T-test. The findings of the study revealed that the nursing and business students in the Thai-medium program of Asia-Pacific International University had positive attitudes towards English language learning. Students perceived listening and speaking to be the most difficult language skills to acquire. The study also showed that there was no significant correlation between students’ academic achievement (GPA) and attitudinal level. Following the findings some pedagogical implications were discussed.
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Research Articles
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References
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Richards, Jack C. (1995). Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classrooms. Cambridge University Press.
Selamat, S. & Sidhu, G. (2011). Student perceptions of metacognitive strategy use in lecture listening comprehension. Language Education in Asia, 2(2), 185-198.
Suwanarak, K.& Phothongsunan, S. (2009). Attributions of high achieving Thai university students perceiving themselves as failures in English usage. Retrieved: January 21, 2014, from: http://km.nida.ac.th/ home/images/pdf/8-3.pdf
Teauratanagul, T. (2008). Attitudes and motivation of learners towards English at two intervals: The Burapha University case. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University.
Thepsiri, K. & Pojanapunya, P. (2012). Remedial students’ attitudes towards English language learning and their causal attributions for success or failure. Humanities and Social Sciences, 29 (1), 26-46.
Wiriyachitra, A. (2002). English language teaching and learning in Thailand in this decade. Thai TESOL Focus, 15(1), 4-9.
Yu, Y. (2010). Attitudes of learners toward English: a case of Chinese college students. Ph.D. Dissertation, The Ohio State University. Retrieved: December 3, 2013, from: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/0?0:APPLICATION_ PROCESS%3DDOWNLOAD_ETD_SUB_DOC_ACCNUM:::F1501_ID:osu1283303545%2Cinline
Zainol, A., et al. (2012). EFL students’ attitudes towards learning English language: The case of Libyan secondary school students. Asian Social Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp.119-134.
Zughoul, M. (2003). Globalization and EFL/ESL pedagogy in the Arab world. Journal of Language & Learning, 1 (2), 106-146.
Aldaba, R. M. (2013). ASEAN Economic Community 2015: Labor mobility and mutual recognition arrangement of professional Services: discussion paper series number 2013-04. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
Alhmali, J. (2007). Student attitudes in the context of the curriculum in Libyan education in middle and high schools. PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow.
Al-Tamimi, A., & Shuib, M. (2009). Motivation and attitudes towards learning English: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of Sciences and Technology. Retrieved: October 20, 2013, from: http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema/pp%2029_55.pdf
ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook.(2012). Retrieved: November 3, 2013, from: http://www.biotrop.org/ attachments/ASEAN_ Curriculum_Sourcebook.pdf
Chaihiranwattana, M., & Nookua, S. (2010). An investigation on English language learning attitudes of Siam University Students. Retrieved: October 20, 2013, from: http://tldc.siam.edu/attachments/050_ ART-001.pdf
CILT, The National Centre for Languages. (2007). Mandarin language learning: research report DCSF-RW019. Department for Children, Schools and Families. Retrieved: January 7, 2014, from: https://www. education.gov.uk/publications/eOrdering/DCSF-RW019.pdf
Eagly, A., & Chaiken S. (1995). Attitude strength, attitude structure, and resistance to change. Mahwah, New Jersey: Eribaum.
Feng, R.,& Chen, H. (2009. An analysis on the importance of motivation and strategy in postgraduates English acquisition. English language teaching, 2(3), 93-97. Retrieved: January 16, 2014, from: http://www. ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/view/3700/3301
Garcia-Santillan, A., et al. (2012). Cognitive, affective and behavioral components that explain attitude toward statistics. Journal of Mathematics Research, 4(5), 8-15.
Gardner, R. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
Gardner, R., & Lambert, W. (1972). Attitudes and motivation in second language learning. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
Ghazali, S., et. Al. (2009). ESL students’ attitude towards texts and teaching methods used in literature classes. English Language Teaching, 2(4), 51-56. Retrieved: November 3, 2013, from: http://www.ccsenet. org/journal/index.php/elt/article/viewFile/4445/378
Hogg, M., & Vaughan, G. (2005). Social psychology (4th ed.). London: Prentice Hall.
Inal, S., Evin, I., & Saracaloglu, A.S. (2005). The relation between students’ attitudes toward foreign language and foreign language achievement. Approaches to the study of language literature. (Paper Presentation) First International Conference Dokuz Eylul University Buca Faculty of Education, 1-3 October.
Kara, A. (2009). The effect of a ‘learning theories’ unit on students’ attitudes towards learning. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 34(3), 100-113. Retrieved: January 17, 2014, from: http://ro.ecu.edu. au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1357&context=ajte
Khunasathitchai, K. (2009). A survey study of students’ attitudes towards English I of the first year students, the Faculty of Technical Education majoring in computer technology at Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep. Language Institute, Thamasat University.
Kitjaroonchai, N. (2013). Primary and lower secondary school teachers’ attitudes toward English language learning: a case study of teachers in Muak Lek and Wang Muang districts, Saraburi province. Catalyst, 8 (1), 49-68.
Kitjaroonchai, N. & Kitjaroonchai, T. (2012). Motivation toward English language learning of Thai students majoring in English at Asia-Pacific International University. Catalyst, 7 (1), 21-40.
Kobayashi, Y. (2002). The role of gender in foreign language learning attitudes: Japanese female students’ attitudes towards English learning. Gender and Education, 14(2), 181-197.
Lanara, S. (1999). Attitudes and motivation of Japanese students studying English at Asia University CELE Journal 10th Anniversary Anthology, 55-64.
Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, (2),140.
Mamum, A., et al. (2012). Students’ attitudes towards English: The case of life science school of Khulna University. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(1), 200-209.
Montano, D. E. & Kasprzyk, D. (2008). Theory of reasoned action, theory of planned behavior, and the integrated behavioural model. In K. Glanz, B. Rimer & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 67-96.
Papanastasiou, C. (2002). School, teaching and family influence on student attitudes towards science: Based on TIMSS data for Cyprus. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 28, 71-86.
Pawapatcharaudom, R. (2007. An investigation of Thai students’ English language problems and their learning strategies in the International program at Mahidol University. Retrieved: October 22, 2013, from: http://www.gits.kmutnb.ac.th/ethesis /data/4880181542.pdf
Richards, Jack C. (1995). Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classrooms. Cambridge University Press.
Selamat, S. & Sidhu, G. (2011). Student perceptions of metacognitive strategy use in lecture listening comprehension. Language Education in Asia, 2(2), 185-198.
Suwanarak, K.& Phothongsunan, S. (2009). Attributions of high achieving Thai university students perceiving themselves as failures in English usage. Retrieved: January 21, 2014, from: http://km.nida.ac.th/ home/images/pdf/8-3.pdf
Teauratanagul, T. (2008). Attitudes and motivation of learners towards English at two intervals: The Burapha University case. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University.
Thepsiri, K. & Pojanapunya, P. (2012). Remedial students’ attitudes towards English language learning and their causal attributions for success or failure. Humanities and Social Sciences, 29 (1), 26-46.
Wiriyachitra, A. (2002). English language teaching and learning in Thailand in this decade. Thai TESOL Focus, 15(1), 4-9.
Yu, Y. (2010). Attitudes of learners toward English: a case of Chinese college students. Ph.D. Dissertation, The Ohio State University. Retrieved: December 3, 2013, from: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/0?0:APPLICATION_ PROCESS%3DDOWNLOAD_ETD_SUB_DOC_ACCNUM:::F1501_ID:osu1283303545%2Cinline
Zainol, A., et al. (2012). EFL students’ attitudes towards learning English language: The case of Libyan secondary school students. Asian Social Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp.119-134.
Zughoul, M. (2003). Globalization and EFL/ESL pedagogy in the Arab world. Journal of Language & Learning, 1 (2), 106-146.