Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
This paper outlines the results of a survey which was carried out, to identify Petroleum Engineering students’ motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language. The study investigated students’ motivation in terms of three motivational constructs: instrumental motivation, integrativ...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbitan UKM
2009
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/2306/1/Vol.9_issue2_%283%29.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/2306/ http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema |
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| Summary: | This paper outlines the results of a survey which was carried out, to identify Petroleum
Engineering students’ motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language.
The study investigated students’ motivation in terms of three motivational constructs:
instrumental motivation, integrative motivation and personal motivation based on
Gardner’s (1985) and Cooper and Fishman’s (1977) works. Learners’ attitudes, on the
other hand, regarding 1) the use of English in the Yemeni social context, 2) the use of
English in the Yemeni educational context, 3) the English language and 4) the culture of
the English speaking world were identified. The study sample consisted of 81 petroleum
engineering students at Hadhramout University of Sciences and Technology (HUST). A
questionnaire and interviews were used for data collection. For the students’ motivation,
the findings showed the subjects’ greater support of instrumental reasons for learning the
English language including utilitarian and academic reasons. Personal reasons were also
regarded as important motives by the students. However, regarding the integrative
reasons, the results provided evidence that learning English as a part of the culture of its
people had the least impact in students’ English language motivation. On the other hand,
data for the students’ attitudes revealed that most of students had positive attitudes
towards the social value and educational status of English. In addition, the findings
showed the students’ positive orientation toward the English language. Interestingly
enough, the results indicated that a high number of the students showed their interest in
the culture of the English speaking world as represented by English-language films.
Finally, some pedagogical implications that would help tap the students’ motivation and
attitudes were presented |
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