Pilot Validation Study of “Students’ Attitudes, Motivation, and Anxiety Towards English Language Learning” Questionnaire to the Kuwaiti Context (Published)
Attitudes, motivation, and anxiety are three factors that can determine how successful a student is in learning a second language. This research is a pilot study to validate the survey questionnaire that is used by Shams (2008), which is originally taken from Gardner (1985), and see whether the survey items can be applied and are considered suitable for the Kuwaiti culture. The pilot study was practiced on 34 students that were randomly selected at PAAET, Kuwait, and consisted of both male and female students. Despite that some survey items were dropped due to them having low factor findings for not confirming with the criteria of component analysis, the rest of the survey items were found to be applicable to the Kuwaiti context and the analysis resulted in having three major components for achieving optimal English language learning. The three components are communication anxiety and confidence that talks about students’ nervousness and fear of being judged while speaking in English; perceived value and practicality of English that talks about how students perceive the English language and its practical benefits; and motivation drive for English fluency that talks about the motivation that students need to maintain their ambition in wanting to learn English. The current study concludes with believing that such three components are vital in every language learning environment, making the components applicable worldwide and not specific to one cultural context.
Keywords: Anxiety, Attitudes, English Language Learning, Kuwait, Motivation, PAAET
The Impact of Using Task-Based Learning as a Pedagogical Tool to Imporve Advanced Writing Skills of Students in College of Basic Education Kuwait (Published)
This study explored how task-based learning was used in teaching advanced writing at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. Students were able to submit a research paper based on task-based teaching methods and activities. The task-based learning program supported students in the advanced writing course to achieve the stated goal by incorporating the four language skills into the tasks of the classroom lesson. Moreover, the activities reflected in the task-based teaching method encouraged the students to think about the language they were using in a more holistic manner, synergizing the language skills through focused exercises. Other factors, such as learner motivation, group work, and culture are discussed in the paper.
Citation: Al-Senafi B. and Al-Haji B. (2023) The Impact of Using Task-Based Learning as a Pedagogical Tool to Imporve Advanced Writing Skills of Students in College of Basic Education Kuwait, International Journal of English Language Teaching , Vol.11, No.2, pp.,61-71
Keywords: Adult Learners, Culture, Motivation, Teaching English, task-based learning, writing
Demotivating Factors in English Language Learning as Perceived by Newly Hired English Language Teachers (Published)
Many researches claimed that motivation is a great factor in the teaching-learning-process. On the other hand, only few researches investigated the impact of demotivation in learning. There are many factors that demotivate learners and affect English language classes. This study aimed to investigate the perceived topmost factors that cause demotivation in English language learning. The data for this study were collected by means of a questionnaire about factors that demotivate learners. Newly hired English teachers from ELPYI- JTI, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu responded to the questionnaire. They were chosen as respondents because they can literally connect to the younger generation. The collected data were analyzed by arranging the rating and ranking given for each factor. The analysis of the gathered data revealed a number of results. First, “Students’ Behavior” and “Teacher’s Behavior” are rated and ranked as the leading demotivating factors in English language learning. Second, “Poor Teaching Style” and “Poor Learning Style” are categorized as the topmost demotivating factors related to teachers and students. Third, “convenience” of the classroom is also perceived as a high factor of demotivation. Last, “Course/Lesson”, and “Course Requirements” are classified as the least demotivating factors that affect learning the English language.
Citation: Quines Z.M. (2023) Demotivating Factors in English Language Learning as Perceived by Newly Hired English Language Teachers, International Journal of English Language Teaching, Vol.11, No.2, pp.,18-30
Keywords: Learning Style, Motivation, demotivating factors, teaching style
Motivation of Students for Independent Work during Training Activities (Published)
The current article discusses the question of motivation of university students for independent work, which is done during training activities. Different theories and viewpoints of specialists to the investigated matter have been included in the discussions. “Maslows’ Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1954), McClelland’s Needs Theory (1961), and “Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory” are analyzed here.Some groups of motives are determined in the organization of effective independent work, such as social motives, cognitive motives and reaction to a number of external factors organizing educational activities. A number of suggestions are given to develop motivation of students in foreign language lessons.
Keywords: Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Motivation, independent work
Communicative Competence in English as a Foreign Language: Its Meaning and the Pedagogical Applications for Its Development (Published)
This study aims to describe the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes within the Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Monastir, Tunisia. In order to explore the attitudes of learners in this institution, a questionnaire was adopted. Scrutiny of the results shows that an overwhelming majority of these students are motivated to study English but there are some constraints related to time-table and the use of information and communication technology. Ultimately, this study aims to improve the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes in the Tunisian higher education.
Keywords: English for Specific purposes, Information and Communication Technology, Learners‟ attitudes, Motivation
Students’ Perceptions of Esp Courses: The Case Of The Preparatory Institute For Engineering Studies Of Monastir, Tunisia (Published)
This study aims to describe the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes within the Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Monastir, Tunisia. In order to explore the attitudes of learners in this institution, a questionnaire was adopted. Scrutiny of the results shows that an overwhelming majority of these students are motivated to study English but there are some constraints related to time-table and the use of information and communication technology. Ultimately, this study aims to improve the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes in the Tunisian higher education.
Keywords: English for Specific purposes, Information and Communication Technology, Learners‟ attitudes, Motivation
The Effect of Motivation on Developing EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension Skills (Published)
This study is set up to examine how motivation affects on comprehending English texts. It concentrates on reading comprehension mainly because reading is the important one of the four skills in English as foreign language (EFL). The participants are university teachers of English language and undergraduate English language students at Blue Nile University in Sudan. The researcher used the descriptive analytical approach because it is suitable for such studies. The data of this study collected by means of questionnaire and tests. This study leads to the findings that there are: motivational techniques improve the EFL intrinsic motivation to read, motivation and attitudes affect on EFL learners’ reading comprehension skills, and different techniques of teaching reading comprehension are helpful in comprehending English texts. Finally the researcher recommends that reading strategies should be taught to EFL students and using games, elements of fun and humors in the classroom motivate students to read and understand.
Keywords: EFL Learners’, Motivation, Reading Comprehension
Students’ Perceptions of ESP Courses: The Case of the Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Monastir Tunisia (Published)
This study aims to describe the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes within the Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Monastir, Tunisia. In order to explore the attitudes of learners in this institution, a questionnaire was used. Scrutiny of the results shows that an overwhelming majority of these students are motivated to study English but there are some constraints related to time-table and teaching aids. Ultimately, this study aims to improve the educational situation of English for Specific Purposes in Tunisian higher education.
Keywords: Audiovisuals., EFL, ESL, English for Specific purposes, Learners‟ attitudes, Motivation
ARAB STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION IN LEARNING ENGLISH: A STUDY OF PYP STUDENTS (Published)
Motivation is the driving force that puts a person in action to achieve his/her goal. Motivation determines the direction of the action. The present study attempts to interpret what important factors affect the motivation of Saudi students in English. The study also looks at the relationship between English language learning motivation of Saudi students and their achievement in English. The data were collected from preparatory year programme, Najran university students. The quantitative approach has been used for data. The major finding of the study is that students don’t want to be looked down upon as ignorant. It has been found that students prefer to learn English due to its international hype and they want to look like English people because they are very impressed by the western culture. The findings also reveal that there is a positive correlation between Saudi students’ motivation and their achievement in English. The study shows interesting effects of motivational factors in learning English.
Keywords: Arab Students, Motivation, Preparatory Year, SLA, attitude
USE OF MOTIVATIONAL EXPRESSIONS AS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IN LEARNING ENGLISH AT PRIMARY LEVEL IN RURAL AREAS OF PAKISTAN (Published)
The aim of this mixed method research is to find out positive changes in learning and behaviour of the rural students of the nursery class in the government schools at Tehsil Jaranwala district Faisalabad province Punjab Pakistan, by the use of motivational expressions within the context of behavioral perspective of Skinner’s (1957) model of reinforcement. The research makes hypothesis that the ELT teachers in government schools at primary level in Pakistan use such techniques and strategies that do not motivate the students in learning English as a second language (ESL) and the young learners especially in rural context are less interested to learn English because teachers do not motivate the students in the class. The researcher took a nursery class for 37 days and tried to motivate the students to learn English and establish their interest in studies through different motivational expressions. Moreover, a survey questionnaire, consisting of 13 close ended questions and 07 open-ended questions was distributed among 28 male and female teachers of different schools to know their views and comments regarding motivation and use of motivational expressions. The results were presented quantitatively in the form of tables, graphs, frequencies and percentages. The findings of the research results show that more than 75 % teachers agree to the view that there should be motivation in the learners and the use of different motivational strategies, for example motivational expressions, enhance the students’ interest in learning. Moreover, the classroom teaching and the questionnaire results show that students become more motivated towards learning English language when they are positively reinforced in the class. The results can be used as key for seeing the reasons behind the failure of the students at schools as well their misconduct in the society and can be a key to make improvements in both the areas.
Keywords: English as a second language (ESL), English language teaching (ELT), Motivation, Pakistan, Rural, Students, behaviourism, reinforcement