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: Atef Al-Tamimi,, Munir Shuib,
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbitan UKM 2009
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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spelling my-ukm.journal.23062016-12-14T06:31:14Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/2306/ Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology Atef Al-Tamimi, Munir Shuib, 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 Penerbitan UKM 2009 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/2306/1/Vol.9_issue2_%283%29.pdf Atef Al-Tamimi, and Munir Shuib, (2009) Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology. GEMA: Online Journal of Language Studies, 9 (2). pp. 29-55. ISSN 1675-8021 http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
building Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/
language English
description 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
format Article
author Atef Al-Tamimi,
Munir Shuib,
spellingShingle Atef Al-Tamimi,
Munir Shuib,
Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
author_facet Atef Al-Tamimi,
Munir Shuib,
author_sort Atef Al-Tamimi,
title Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
title_short Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
title_full Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
title_fullStr Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
title_full_unstemmed Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: A study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at Hadhramout University of sciences and technology
title_sort motivation and attitudes towards learning english: a study of petroleum engineering undergraduates at hadhramout university of sciences and technology
publisher Penerbitan UKM
publishDate 2009
url 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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score 13.211869