The Role of Societal and Contextual Factors in Second Language Learning Motivation: A Perspective from Tertiary Students in Pakistan
-
Muhammad Shahbaz
Abstract
In recent years, SLA and L2 learning motivation have received extensive attention of researchers and teachers across the globe but the issue remains underdeveloped and there are only some small-scale studies on this subject in Pakistan. Among different factors that affect L2 learning motivation, the current study focuses on exploring differences in L2 learning motivation by college type (private vs. public) and major subject of study (Arts vs. Sciences). Analyzing the questionnaire data from 547 first year college students, the study singles out different situation-specific factors that account for variation in ESL learning motivation. Results indicate that private college students have a higher motivation level and better achievements in ESL learning as compared to public college students. Public college students have strong instrumental motivation while private college students show preferences for an ideal L2 self. L2 motivation does not differ a great deal between students with different subjects of study but there is a big gap in the achievement of both groups. Arts majors’ motivation depends heavily on their attitude towards English while science majors are instrumentally motivated to learn English. We also discuss some possible reasons for the differences in motivation and implications of the study for ESL teachers and learners.
©2015 Walter de Gruyter, Berlin Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Identity, Investment, and Faces of English Internationally
- “Oh My Gosh! The Expression Is Too Chinese”: Attitudes of University Teachers and Students towards China English
- An Overview of the Development of Research on Public Speaking Course from 2004 to 2013
- Word Concreteness and Word Translatability: Relations and Implications for Second Language Acquisition
- The Role of Societal and Contextual Factors in Second Language Learning Motivation: A Perspective from Tertiary Students in Pakistan
- Interaction in Assessment-Oriented Role Play: A Conversation Analytic Approach
- Comparison Between Peer Mediation and Teacher Mediation in Dynamic EFL Writing Assessment: A Case Study
- Chinese Abstracts
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Identity, Investment, and Faces of English Internationally
- “Oh My Gosh! The Expression Is Too Chinese”: Attitudes of University Teachers and Students towards China English
- An Overview of the Development of Research on Public Speaking Course from 2004 to 2013
- Word Concreteness and Word Translatability: Relations and Implications for Second Language Acquisition
- The Role of Societal and Contextual Factors in Second Language Learning Motivation: A Perspective from Tertiary Students in Pakistan
- Interaction in Assessment-Oriented Role Play: A Conversation Analytic Approach
- Comparison Between Peer Mediation and Teacher Mediation in Dynamic EFL Writing Assessment: A Case Study
- Chinese Abstracts
