English language students and their Motivation to Learn the Language

Abstract

This research is intended to provide insight on the motivations English students have to learn the language. Its main objective is to learn about students’ perceptions in relation to their motivation to learn English inside the classroom through two main questions: What motivates students to learn English? And, what hinders students to learn English? They were addressed by surveying 120 students from Quito, Ecuador, who currently attend school Colegio Ecuatoriano Español América Latina, whose ages range from 12 to 18 and who course grades 8th General Basic Education to 3rd year of Senior High School. Data obtained through surveys was tabulated and then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, the latter due to the existence of open-ended questions that lead to further understanding of students’ perception on the topic, which was contrasted to class observations. The results of the study show that generally, students from the school are motivated through the perception of effective, supporting, caring teachers who do not hinder their learning, while the lack of variety of activities, misuse of textbooks and material demotivate a big group of surveyed students.