Motivation And Attitudes Towards Learning English: A Study Of

GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies
Volume 9(2) 2009

29

Motivation And Attitudes Towards Learning English: A Study Of
Petroleum Engineering Undergraduates At Hadhramout
University Of Sciences And Technology
Atef Al-Tamimi [e-mail] Faculty of Arts
Hadhramout University of Sciences and Technology
Munir Shuib [e-mail] School of Humanities
Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract
This paper outlines the results of a survey which was carried out, to identify Petroleum
Engineering students’ motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language.
The study investigated students’ motivation in terms of three motivational constructs: instrumental motivation, integrative motivation and personal motivation based on
Gardner’s (1985) and Cooper and Fishman’s (1977) works. Learners’ attitudes, on the other hand, regarding 1) the use of English in the Yemeni social context, 2) the use of
English in the Yemeni educational context, 3) the English language and 4) the culture of the English speaking world were identified. The study sample consisted of 81 petroleum engineering students at Hadhramout University of Sciences and Technology (HUST). A questionnaire and interviews were used for data collection. For the students’ motivation, the findings showed the subjects’ greater support of instrumental reasons for learning the
English language including utilitarian and academic reasons. Personal reasons were also regarded as important motives by the students. However, regarding the integrative reasons, the results provided evidence that learning English as a part of the culture of its people had the least impact in students’ English language motivation. On the other hand, data for the students’ attitudes revealed that most of students had positive attitudes towards the social value and educational status of English. In addition, the findings showed the students’ positive orientation toward the English language. Interestingly

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