A Research On The English Learning Motivation Of Junior Middle School Students

Learning motivation has a direct impact on learners’ learning.In China,English is the main foreign language taught in most schools.English learning motivation directly determines learners’ attitude,enthusiasm,time and energy input in English learning,which can affect learners’ English acquisition to a large extent.In recent years,many junior high school students lack motivation and interest in English learning,which makes their English scores generally not high.Without doubt,these phenomena need to be solved urgently.Therefore,this thesis investigates the English learning motivation of junior middle school students so as to make both teachers and students better understand the English learning motivation of junior middle school students and get some enlightenment which is helpful to improve junior high school students’ English learning motivation.Based on the related theories of learning motivation,this thesis investigates the English learning motivation of junior middle school students through questionnaire and interview.The questionnaire used in the present research is adapted from the questionnaire of Gao Yihong et al.(2003c).The author randomly selects two classes from each grade(six classes,420 students in total)from Shilong NO.1 Junior Middle School,Guiping City as the subjects of the research.The present study focuses on the following four questions: 1)What is the general situation of junior middle school students’ English learning motivations? 2)What are the characteristics of junior middle school students’ English learning motivations? 3)What are the feature differences in English learning motivations among junior middle school students of different genders? 4)What are the feature differences in English learning motivations among junior middle school students in different grades?After investigating and analyzing the current status of English learning motivations of Shilong NO.1 Junior Middle School students,four conclusions are drawn out as thefollows: First,Students’ English learning motivations are not very strong.Second,After the seven types of motivations classified into three categories,namely cultural motivation,instrumental motivation and situational motivation,it is found that cultural motivation is the main type of English learning motivation of junior middle school students.Third,in terms of the gender variable,there is significant difference only in learning situation between male and female students.Fourth,after the multiple comparisons among different grades worked out,it is found that there is no significant difference in the seven types of English learning motivations between grade nine and grade seven or between grade nine and grade eight.But in terms of intrinsic interest,immediate achievement and going abroad,grade seven is significantly stronger than grade eight.Based on the research results,this thesis gives some suggestions from the perspectives of teachers and students,which may help them better grasp and stimulate the English learning motivations of junior high school students.