The impact of motivation on English language learning: a study of private university students in Bangladesh

Abstract

Motivation has long been identified as one of the main factors affecting English language teaching (Gardner, 1985). Motivation is one of the characteristics of Language learning, and it is definitely a helpful facilitator in the Language Learning process. Motivational strategies are techniques that promote individual goal-related behavior. Because it is known that human behavior is rather complex, there are many diverse ways of promoting it and motivation is one of them whether it is teaching English language skills in teaching or learning. A teacher should focus on the various strategies which can promote classroom L2 learning, even the strategies which present new material, give feedback, set up communicative tasks or assign homework. This study analyzed and determined the various socio-psychological orientations of the undergraduate students of private universities of Bangladesh towards learning English. Investigating on the type and level of English language learning motivation of first-year undergraduate students of two renowned private universities in Dhaka, the study revealed instrumental motivation as more effective compared to integrative motivation in the context of Bangladesh.