The English Learning Motivation Of Military University Students In The CALL Environment

Motivation plays an increasingly important role in classroom language learning,since 'motivation provides the primary impetus to initiate learning the L2 and later the driving force to sustain the long and often tedious learning process'(Dornyei,1998).When learners are highly motivated and their learning experiences are meaningful and purposeful for them,they learn more readily.However,the problem of lack of motivation is serious among the Integrate Training Brigade(ITB) students in National University of Defense Technology(NUDT),who assume that they will have few or even no opportunities to utilize English in their future career since they are going to be distributed to the grass root units.Fortunately,much CALL(Computer-assisted language learning) research has showed that the application of multimedia technology in language learning and teaching could promote students' motivation by providing learners with supportive environment and increasing their self-confidence in learning.In review of some related theories,this study was designed to testify the effectiveness of the use of CALL from the aspects of motivation and English achievement in the framework of constructivism.In this quasi-experiment,the researcher randomly chose two intact groups,one as experimental group and the other as comparison group.Altogether 129 ITB students in experimental group learned English in the CALL environment while the students in comparison group learned English in traditional face-to-face class.Each group covered the same content and underwent the same assessment procedures.A pretest and a posttest were administered respectively to assess students' improvement in English learning motivation and the progress in achievement.The study was to answer the following questions:1.What are the student general attitudes towards the use of computer?2.Do students learning in CALL environment improve their perception of intrinsic goal orientation,task value,control of learning belief and self-efficacy for learning and performance? 3.Do students learning in CALL environment improve their English achievement?4.What are the advantages of CALL environment that may affect students' motivation?The results of the study indicated that:1.Both students and teachers showed positive attitudes towards the use of CALL. They thought that CALL improved their English communicative skills,especially areas of reading,listening and speaking practice.2.Students' four aspects of motivation:intrinsic goal orientation,task value,control of learning belief and self-efficacy were all enhanced in the CALL environment.3.Moreover,students in experimental group outperforlned those in comparison group in their English achievement test after the experiment.4.CALL environment affected the enhancement of students' motivation in three aspects:1.CALL supported learners' autonomy;2.CALL exposed learners to a supportive environment.3.CALL provided learners high quality feedback.The study is of great significance theoretically and pedagogically.Theoretically,the study testified the enhancement of students' motivation and English achievement in CALL environment,which provided evidences for the positive influences of CALL on English learning.Pedagogically,the study provided teachers and learners some key factors to consider when integrating CALL into English curriculum.