A Study On The English Learning Motivation Of The Non-english Major Freshmen In Independent College

Motivation is proved to be one of the vital factors in the learning process. It is regarded as a predictor of language learning. So experts pay more and more attention to it at home and abroad. In China, English is now the main second language to Chinese learners, so motivation in learning English, as one of the most important and the most complex psychological factors as well as one of the individual differences in learners, directly affects learners’ individual enthusiasm, initiative, persistence and effort, which have great impact on learners’ English ability. That is, motivation in English learning plays a vital role.As a new product of the education reform in China, independent colleges are all founded by non-governmental organizations and belong to the third batch in admission line. It is different from the general universities in three respects. Firstly, the students’scores of entrance examinations are relatively low, and their elementary knowledge is weak. Secondly, these colleges are relatively young. The teaching staff is not really adequate and teaching achievement is indisitintive. Thirdly, its social status is relatively low, and the employment is not prosperous enough.There are many researches as how to solve the problems of independent colleges in academic circles, but there is just few researches on the enhancing of learning motivation of independent college students in English, especially the freshman. To strengthen the freshmen’s English learning can better improve the quality of English learning in the future of independent colleges. Therefore, it is necessary to do a comprehensive survey and research of motivation of the non-English major freshmen in English learning in independent colleges, in order to learn the main types of motivation in English learning of freshmen, motivation level and the main factors, so as to get some beneficial inspirations for improving motivation in English learning. With related motivation theory as the basis theory, and based on some related previous studies, the present paper conducted a survey via questionnaire on the motivation of English learning of120non-English major freshmen from Chenggong independent college of Henan Economics and Law University. This study focuses on the following three questions:1) What kinds of motivation do the freshmen hold in the subject college, and which are the main EL motivations?2) How is the freshmen’ motivation level in EL in the subject college, low or not?3) What are the factors affecting the EL motivation level?The study reveals the following findings:The motivation level in English learning of the freshmen in Chenggong colleges of Henan Economics and Law University is not high, and the motivation type is also rather complex, but the freshmen tends to show the instrumental motivition, and the freshmen are lack of confidence because of the poor entrance scores which have great impact on their own English learning. Besides, these freshmen are of negative attitudes towards the professional level of the teaching staff in the independent college, and so on. Correspondingly, the last part of this paper puts forward some suggestions as to the enhancement of the students’ self-confidence, the improvement of the learning environment, the teacher’s professional training and teaching mood. Also, some suggestions on the learning strategies on the part of the students are put forward, with the hope of improving the learning modes and of building a fine learning atmosphere in the college.