English Language Students and their Motivation to Learn the Language

Abstract

The purpose of this present research was to determine the motivation that English language students have to learn the language. It is well known that motivation is an important key in the target language acquisition. To conduct this research, 100 students were selected in a simple random sample, and they answered a questionnaire. Furthermore, five teachers were observed and recorded in observation sheets their performance in the English classrooms at eighth, ninth of general education in a public high school in Otavalo. This research was developed using the quantitative method, the applied techniques were surveys and note-takings. The collected data was reviewed, analyzed, sorted, described and interpreted in relation with the literature review. As a result, it was concluded that the aspects that motivated students to learn English are they desire to improve their English level to able to communicate with English speaking people, their wishes to travel. However, the main aspects that hiders their motivation are the complexity of the topic and the number to students in the class.