Motivation And Attitudes Towards Learning English: A Study Of

Petroleum Engineering Undergraduates At Hadhramout

University Of Sciences And Technology

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Presenter: Yang, Hao-Ting (Tim) Instructor: Dr. Pi-Ying HsuDate:2013.10.7

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Citation

Al-Tamimi, 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.

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CONTENT

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Results & Conclusion

Reflection

Future Study

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Introduction

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Hadhramout University for Science and Technology (HUST) its petroleum engineering students have been described as low-competent in the English language.

Background

Most of the petroleum graduates have been rejected when applying to work at the oil companies.

ENGLISH

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Purpose of study

This study aims at investigating petroleum engineering students’ motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language.

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Research Question

Which are the three types of motivation (instrumental, integrative and personal) could be the primary source of petroleum engineering students’ motivation towards learning the English language?

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What kind of type of attitude that petroleum engineering students have towards learning the English language?2

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Literature Review

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The choices people make as to what experiences or goalsthey will approach or avoid, and the degree of effort they exert in that respect.

(Keller, 1983)

Motivation

Students with higher levels of motivation will do better than students with lower levels.

(Gardner, 2006)

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An inference which is made on the basis of a complex of beliefs about the attitude object.

(Likert, 1932)

Attitudes

Positive language attitudes let learner have positive orientation towards learning English.

(Karahan, 2007)

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Difficulties with the subject (English) aspects such as vocabulary, structures and spelling were found to be the most demotivating factors for the students.

(Oashoa, 2006)

Latest idea

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Methodology

Participants

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81 males

Academic year 2006-2007

HUST(Hadhramout University of Sciences and Technology)

Instruments

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Data Analysis

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Quantitative

•Descriptive statistics

Qualitative

•Content analysis method

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Results & Conclusion

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Which are the three types of motivation (instrumental, integrative and personal) could be the primary source of petroleum engineering students’ motivation towards learning the English language?

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Questionnaire result

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Motivation

Instrumental motivation (items 1, 2, 3, and 4) received the highest mean scores, of all the subjects' results, (overall mean=4.5000)

Interview result

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Motivation

Instrumental reasons were considered the primary source of the students’ motivation towards learning the English language.

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What kind of type of attitude that petroleum engineering students have towards learning the English language?2

Questionnaire result

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Attitudes

The majority of the subjects (95%) had great desirestowards speaking English well like fluent speakers.

Interview result

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Attitudes

The students have positive attitudes towards learning the English language and negative attitudes toward the culture of the English speaking world.

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Conclusion

Instrument motivation was the primary motivation.

Integration reasons had the least impact in students’ English motivation.

Positive attitudes toward:

The English language

The use of English in the Yemeni social context

The use of English in the Yemeni educational context

The culture of the English speaking world as represented by English-language films

Reflection

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All the participated subjects (n=81) were males as there were no female students in the department. Therefore, the generalization from the findings should be made with caution.

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Future Study

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Questionnaire

Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB)

(Gardner,1985)

Participants

Around 35 students in

workplace English class

Data AnalysisDescriptive statistics

Quantitative Strongly Disagree

Moderately Disagree

SlightlyDisagree

SlightlyAgree

ModeratelyAgree

StronglyAgree

I wish I could speak many foreign languages perfectly.

I don’t pay much attention to the feedback I receive in my English class.

Learning English is really great.

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ParticipantsAround 5 students

in workplace English class

Data AnalysisContent analysis

method

Qualitative

Q:1. Their reasons for learning English

2. Their interest to attend more training courses in English

3. Their attitudes towards the English language andtowards the culture of the English speaking world

THANK YOU!

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