The purpose of this study is to identify what motivates the 1st year Undergraduate students from a public University located at the center of Mindelo City in Cape Verde to learn English as a foreign language.
Motivation is a relevant requisite in learning a foreign language, and is an issue that has been discussed by many educators since it appears absent in many students and so present in others.
Furthermore, this paper will also address what is the particular influence of Mindelo tourism in the students’ motivation and if the motivations presented contribute with their learning outcomes in English language. Twenty 1st year undergraduate students of English Studies from the University of Cape Verde in the city of Mindelo, Cape Verde, participated in this study. There were 8 females and 12 male student participants, with an age range from 19 to 31 years old. Having in mind the purpose of this study, this research focused on qualitative data collection and the data was collected through questionnaire and semi structured interviews.
After analysing and discussing the obtained data, the results suggest that the participants of this study display an extrinsic and instrumental motivation, since it is the region's tourism that influences the motivation of these students in a positive way to the English learning, resulting in a good general performance of these students.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION
THE RESEARCHER
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
CHAPTER II –LITERATURE REVIEW
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER III- METHODOLOGIES
SAMPLE POPULATION
UNIVERSITY
TOTAL
POPULATION
PLAN FOR DATA ANALYSIS
CHAPTER IV – DATA ANALYSIS
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I- MOTIVATION TO LEARN ENGLISH QUESTIONNAIRE
APPENDIX II- INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO STUDENTS
Research Objectives and Themes
This research aims to identify the primary motivational factors for first-year undergraduate students at a public university in Mindelo, Cape Verde, regarding their English language acquisition. The study specifically examines the influence of local tourism on student motivation and investigates whether these motivational drivers correlate with academic performance in English studies.
- Analysis of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivational factors in foreign language learning.
- Evaluation of the role of Mindelo's tourism industry as an external motivator.
- Assessment of the correlation between student motivation levels and classroom engagement.
- Investigation into professional and communicative career goals among undergraduate students.
Excerpt from the Book
Statement of the Problem
The term “Motivation” is currently one of the terms most used by educators and other responsible for education and it is also an issue that has been discussed by many authors in many fields of study regarding foreign language learning, owing to its powerful influence to students’ behavior and performance.
Therefore, this research project has as its aim to identify what motivates the 1st year Undergraduate students from a public University located at the center of Mindelo City in Cape Verde to learn English as a foreign language. Furthermore, this paper will also address what is the particular influence of Mindelo tourism in the students’ motivation and if the motivations presented contribute with their learning outcomes in English language. As a Professor I understand how relevant is motivation in the classrooms, and I believe that knowing how to motivate students is one of the most important skills a teacher should have. Therefore, my research project will be conducted to survey the 1st year undergraduate students in the first semester more precisely in the academic year 2016. The purpose is to find the answers for the following questions: 1) What is the first year undergraduate students’ motivation to learn English as a foreign language? 2) What is the role of Mindelo’s tourism in their motivation? 3) Does their motivation contribute to increase their performance in the English language?
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the researcher’s background as a Capeverdean English professor and outlines the problem statement regarding student motivation in learning English as a foreign language.
CHAPTER II –LITERATURE REVIEW: This section analyzes peer-reviewed research on motivational constructs, specifically contrasting intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and discusses the importance of the teacher-student relationship and environmental factors.
CHAPTER III- METHODOLOGIES: This chapter details the qualitative research design, describing the demographic profile of the 20 participating university students and the instruments used for data collection, including questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
CHAPTER IV – DATA ANALYSIS: This chapter presents the findings derived from the collected data, highlighting that tourism in Mindelo serves as a significant extrinsic and instrumental motivational factor for the students.
CONCLUSION: The concluding chapter summarizes the key findings, confirming that external factors, particularly the local tourism industry, are central to the students' drive to achieve proficiency in English.
Keywords
Motivation, English language learning, Cape Verde, Mindelo, Tourism, Intrinsic motivation, Extrinsic motivation, Instrumental motivation, Undergraduate students, Foreign language acquisition, Teacher-centered learning, Student-centered learning, Academic performance, Language proficiency, Qualitative research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research focuses on understanding the motivational factors that drive first-year undergraduate students in Mindelo, Cape Verde, to learn English as a foreign language.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the psychological and pedagogical aspects of motivation, the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and the specific impact of local tourism on learners' career ambitions.
What is the main objective of the study?
The main objective is to identify what motivates these specific students and whether this motivation positively correlates with their learning outcomes and performance in English courses.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The research utilized a qualitative approach, employing a pilot-tested questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to gather data from a group of 20 first-year undergraduate students.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines literature regarding motivational theories, details the specific methodology used in the Cape Verdean university context, and presents a thorough analysis of the collected survey and interview data.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include motivation, English language learning, Cape Verde, tourism, extrinsic motivation, and language proficiency.
How does local tourism influence the students in this study?
Local tourism acts as a powerful extrinsic and instrumental motivator, as students view English proficiency as an essential tool for securing jobs in the tourism sector or communicating with visitors.
What role does the teacher play according to the findings?
The research emphasizes that the teacher is a key element in maintaining student motivation by creating an encouraging atmosphere and selecting methods that address the students' needs and interests.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Ernania Fortes (Autor:in), 2016, Why Learn English? Cape Verdeans’ First Year Undergraduate Students’ Motivation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/495197
