Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: the case of first-year AP students in mechanical engineering at TNUT

  • Authors

    • Hoang Thi Tham Thai Nguyen University of Technology
    • Tran Thi Hong Nguyen Tat Thanh University,
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.29199

    Received date: May 10, 2019

    Accepted date: May 30, 2019

    Published date: June 30, 2019

  • Attitude, Higher English Proficiency, Language Learning, Learning English, Motivation.

  • Abstract

    The study aimed at investigating motivation and attitudes towards learning English of first-year Advanced Program students in Me-chanical Engineering at Thai Nguyen University of Technology in Vietnam. The participants were categorized into two groups accord-ing to their English proficiency. Attitude / Motivation Test Battery was employed in the study. The findings revealed that the students were motivated and held positive attitudes towards learning English. Specifically, the students of higher English proficiency had higher motivation and more highly positive attitudes towards learning English in comparison with those of lower English proficiency. Addi-tionally, the students’ motivation and attitudes were found to affect students’ beliefs, learning strategies, learning outcome, etc. Some recommendations have been introduced to help teachers develop students’ motivation and attitudes towards learning English.

  • References

    1. Gardner R.C. (1985), Social Psychology and Language Learning: The Role of Attitude and Motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
    2. Gadner R. C. (2001). Intergrative motivation and second language acquision, In Z. Dornyei and R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and Second Language Acquisition, Honolulu.
    3. Gadner R. C. and Lambert W.E (1959). “Motivational variables in second language acquisition”, Canadian Journal of Psychology, 13, 266-272. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0083787.
    4. Gardner R.C. and Lambert W.E. (1972). Attitudes and Motivation in Second- Language Learning, Rowley, Mass: Newbury House.
    5. Dörnyei, Z., & Csizér, K. (1998). “Ten commandments for motivat-ing language learners: Results of an empirical study”. Language Teaching Research, 2(3), 203-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/136216889800200303.
    6. Noels, K. A., Clemesnt, R., and Pelletier, L. G. (1999). “Perceptions of teachers’communicative style and students’ istrinsic and extrinsic motivation”. The modern Language Journal, 83:1, 23-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/0026-7902.00003.
    7. McDonough, S. (1983). Psychology in foreign language teaching. George Allen & Unwin: London.
    8. Dörnyei, Z. 2001. Motivational Strategies in the Language Class-room. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667343.
    9. Ellis, R. (1994). The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    10. Brown, D. H. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
    11. Gardner R. (2006). “The socio-educational model of second lan-guage acquisition: A research paradigm”, EUROSLA Yearbook, 6(2006), 237-260. https://doi.org/10.1075/eurosla.6.14gar.
    12. Nunan D. 2000. Language Teaching Methodology (2nd Impression). Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.
    13. Brown, D. H. (2007). Principles of language learning and teaching. (5th Eds.). Pearson: Longman.
    14. Dornyei, Csizer, & Nemeth (2006). Motivation, language attitudes and globalization: a Hungarian perspective. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853598876.
    15. Gardner, R. (1983). “Learning another language: a true social psy-chological experiment”. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2, 219-240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X8300200209.
    16. Winke, P (2005). “Promoting Motivation in the Foreign Language Classroom”. Clear News, VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2, pp1-6.
    17. Wilkins, D. (1972). Linguistics in language teaching. Cambridge: CPU.
    18. Bidin, S. (2009). Motivation and Attitude in Learning English among UiTM Students in the Northern Region of Malaysia. MARA Univer-sity of Technology. Department of Language Studies. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v2n2p16.
    19. Gardner, R. (1980). “On the validity of affective variables in second language acquisition: conceptual and statistical considerations”. Lan-guage Learning, 30 (2), 255-270. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1980.tb00318.x.
    20. Petrides, J.R., (2006). “Attitudes and motivation and their impact on the performance of young English as foreign Language learners”. Journal of Language and Learning, 5(1).
    21. Wenden A. 1991. Learner Strategies for Learner Autonomy. Lon-don: Prentice Hall
    22. Lopez Y. H. (2007). Attitudes of basic track students towards Eng-lish at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. University of Puerto rico.
    23. Lifrieri V. (2005). A sociological perspective on motivation to learn EFL: The case of Escuelas Plurilingües in Argentina, M.A. Thesis, (2005), University of Pittsburgh.
    24. Tham, H. T. (2010). A study on solutions to improve the quality of English learning for Advanced programs students. TNUT scientific project.
    25. Benson M. J. (1991). “Attitudes and motivation towards English: a survey of Japanese Freshmen”. RELC Journal 22 (1), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/003368829102200103.
    26. Dörnyei, Z., & Otto, I. (1998). “Motivation in action: A process model of L2 motivation”, Working Papers in Applied Linguistics, 4: 43-69. London, Thamas Valley University.
    27. Tsiplakides, I. & Keramida, A. (2010). “Promoting Positive Attitudes in SL/EFL Classes”. The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XVI, No. 1, January 2010.
    28. Lightbown, P., and Spada.N. (1999). How Languages are Learned. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    29. Brophy, J. (2004). Motivating Students to Learn, New Jersey: Law-rence Erlbaum Associates.
    30. O’Malley, J. M. and Chamot, A. U. (1995). Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Thi Tham, H., & Thi Hong, T. (2019). Motivation and attitudes towards learning english: the case of first-year AP students in mechanical engineering at TNUT. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 7(4), 6574-6578. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.29199