Language learning attitudes and

motivations: The experience of

average users of English.
PREPARED BY: SAIFUL ISLAM BIN AHMAD
SUKRI
P87184

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART
1

CONTENT
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
THEORIES RELATED TO
LANGUAGE ATTITUDES
THEORIES RELATED TO
MOTIVATIONS
REVIEW OF 3 PAST STUDIES
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INSTRUMENT OF THE STUDY
RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Unarguably, the English language plays a very essential role in the
development of a country in this age of globalization.
In Malaysia, the Ministry of Education has been implementing numerous
policies which are aimed at enhancing students English proficiency.
However, the current level of Malaysian secondary school students English
proficiency is worrying (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia 2016).
So, to best understand this perpetuating problem, it would be advisable to
study students attitudes and motivation for learning the English language.
This is crucial as both attitudes and motivation would determine to
what extent they are willing to undergo a journey of becoming good
language learners of English (Dornyei, 2010).

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Having a sound command of the English language is indispensable
in todays globalized world.
On the contrary, news reporting on the decline in the competency
level of English among Malaysians has frequently become the
headlines of newspapers.
Despondently, the relationship between beliefs and language
learning have been examined by very few studies (Ellis,2008).
Studies on average users of English are of great concern. This
group of English users generally represents a big number of students
in Malaysia who are experiencing difficulties in learning English and
thereby, giving a clear picture of the issue studied. (Kementerian
Pendidikan Malaysia, 2016).
It is very much needed to understand how they respond to their

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is:
1) to examine students attitudes and
motivations in learning the English
language.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) What are the attitudes of form 2 students of Hulu Terengganu
Science Secondary School towards the English language learning?
2) What are the instrumental motivations of form 2 students of Hulu
Terengganu Science Secondary School towards the learning of English?
3) What are the integrative motivations of form 2 students of Hulu
Terengganu Science Secondary School towards the learning of English?
4) What are the personal motivations of form 2 students of Hulu
Terengganu Science Secondary School towards the learning of English?

THEORY: ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE

LEARNING OF ENGLISH
According to Smith, 1971, he defined attitudes as an
organization of beliefs that is relatively enduring. It is
relatively enduring because it can be learned
(Oroujlou & Vahedi 2011).
For instance, developing a liking for English language
can be learned or nurtured in students. So, this
suggests that developing positive attitudes towards
the English language is a possible process.
Positive attitudes towards the target language, as
claimed by Gardner (1985) ,can enhance the
effectiveness of language learning experiences.

THEORY: MOTIVATION BEHIND THE

LEARNING OF ENGLISH
Based on the works of Gardner (1985) and

Cooper & Fishman (1977), there are three types

of motivation responsible for the success of
second language learning.
They are instrumental, integrative and personal
motivation.

REVIEW OF 3 PAST STUDIES

SCOPE OF THE
STUDY

RESEARCHERS &
YEAR

RESEARCH
INTRUMENTS

FINDINGS

EFL Learners
(Igawa,2015)
attitudes and
motivation towards
learning English: In
the case of
Japanese
university students

Questionnaire

The respondents had

positive attitudes
towards learning
English. Their levels
of motivation were
reported to be
higher than a similar
study undertaken by
Taguchi et al, 2009 .

Motivation and
attitudes towards
learning English
among
undergraduates in
the National
University of
Malaysia

Questionnaire

The respondents
were driven by
instrumental
motivation to learn
English and held
positive attitudes
towards English

(Abdullah & Shah,

2014)

AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
ASPECT
RESEARCH DESIGN
RESEARCH SITE

DETAILS
SURVEY
HULU TERENGGANU
SCIENCE SECONDARY
SCHOOL
RESEARCH SAMPLING
CONVENIENT
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS 25 STUDENTS OF
FORM 2, AGED 14
CONSIST OF 13 MALES
AND 12 FEMALES
AVERAGE LEVEL OF
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

INSTRUMENT OF THE STUDY

The instrument used in this study is questionnaire.
The questionnaire has 2 sections all together.
The questionnaire is translated into Bahasa Melayu with the aid of Mr. Muhamad Fadli
bin Shafie who has been teaching English as a second language for almost a decade.
A set of questionnaire containing 16 questions is adopted and adapted based on
the studies of Al-Tarmimi and Shuib (2014) ,Dornyei (2010) and Gardner and
MacIntyre (1991).
First of all, respondents have to provide their demographic information.
Then, the first section is designed based on the works of Al-Tarmimi and Shuib (2014)
with the purpose of examining students attitudes towards English learning.
Finally, the second section is constructed based on the works of Dornyei (2010) and
Gardner & Maclyntyre (1991) with the aim of examining students motivations for
learning of English.

DIVISION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE

ATTITUDES
Adopted and adapted
from Al-Tarmimi and Shuib
(2014).
1 question and 8 items.
Responses are indicated
by yes or no.

MOTIVATIONS
Adopted and adapted from Al-Tarmimi and Shuib (2014),
Dornyei (2010) and Gardner and MacIntyre (1991).
3 questions and 8 items.
1-6 items from Al-Tarmimi and Shuib (2014) .
7th item from Dornyei (2010).
8th item from MacIntyre (1991).
Responses are measured using a 4-point Likert scale.

STUDY PROCEDURE
Questionnaires on language attitudes and motivation
will be distributed and answered by the respondents
under the supervision of their English class teacher.
Upon answering all the questions, the questionnaires
will be submitted to their class teacher.
Their English teacher will post the answered
questionnaires to the researchers correspondence
address.
Afterwards, when all the information needed is at hand,
the researcher will start analyzing it.

DATA ANALYSIS
It will commence once the researcher receives
the questionnaires.
The analysis will solely be based on percentages.
In other words, the study would report on the
percentages of respondents attitudes and
motivation for learning the English language .

REFERENCES
Al Tarmimi, A & Shuib, M. 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): 29- 55.
Abdullah, H, I & Shah,P.M. 2014. Motivation and attitudes
towards learning English among undergraduates in the
National University of Malaysia (UKM). International Journal
of English
and Education, 3(4): 209-227.
Yunus,M,M & Abdullah,N,R,K,R .2011. Motivation and
attitudes towards learning English among year six students
in primary rural school. Proceedia Social and Behavioral
Sciences,15(2011): 2631- 2636

REFERENCES
Igawa, K. 2015. EFL learners attitudes and motivation
towards learning English.http://www.shitennoji.ac.jp [22
September 2016]
Gardner, R & MacIntyre, P. 1991. An instrumental
motivation in language study: who says it isnt effective?
Studies in second language acquisition, 13: 57-72.
Ellis, R. 2008. The study of second language acquisition.
Oxford University Press: Oxford
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. 2016. English language
education reform in Malaysia: The roadmap 2015-2025.