MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate student motivation and gender differences in learning Spanish as a foreign language in the Malaysian context. Method – Student motivation was measured by means of a selfreport questionnaire based on Gardner’s social psychological model. T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UUM Press
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction |
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| Online Access: | https://www.e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/mjli/article/view/7758 |
| _version_ | 1811313517787086848 |
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| author | Hou-Keat Khong Nurul Husna Hassan Norasrani Ramli |
| author_facet | Hou-Keat Khong Nurul Husna Hassan Norasrani Ramli |
| author_sort | Hou-Keat Khong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate student motivation and gender differences in learning Spanish as a foreign language in the Malaysian context.
Method – Student motivation was measured by means of a selfreport questionnaire based on Gardner’s social psychological model. The questionnaire contained both close-ended and open-ended questions to provide both quantitative and qualitative information. The participants consisted of 448 students from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute where Spanish is a compulsory subject.
Findings – The findings showed that the students were highly motivated toward learning Spanish. No significant differences were found between integrative and instrumental motivations and gender. Nonetheless, both quantitative and qualitative results suggested that the students were slightly more instrumentally inclined but simultaneously appreciated the target language and culture. This was particularly the case for the female students who showed significantly higher instrumental motivation in Spanish learning.
Significance – The study supports the claim that motivation is context-specific and at the same time provides a better understanding of a Malaysian situated phenomenon. Its findings have underscored that different learning contexts have different impacts on student motivation. It is hoped that the understanding of Malaysian student motivation may contribute useful insights to improve the curriculum and instruction of foreign language learning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:56:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0fcbf43521054e96a7343ae7b6e41bf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1675-8110 2180-2483 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:56:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | UUM Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fcbf43521054e96a7343ae7b6e41bf42022-12-22T02:49:31ZengUUM PressMalaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction1675-81102180-24832017-12-0114210.32890/mjli2017.14.2.3MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITYHou-Keat Khong0Nurul Husna Hassan1Norasrani Ramli2Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute, MalaysiaUniversiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute, MalaysiaUniversiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute, MalaysiaPurpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate student motivation and gender differences in learning Spanish as a foreign language in the Malaysian context. Method – Student motivation was measured by means of a selfreport questionnaire based on Gardner’s social psychological model. The questionnaire contained both close-ended and open-ended questions to provide both quantitative and qualitative information. The participants consisted of 448 students from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute where Spanish is a compulsory subject. Findings – The findings showed that the students were highly motivated toward learning Spanish. No significant differences were found between integrative and instrumental motivations and gender. Nonetheless, both quantitative and qualitative results suggested that the students were slightly more instrumentally inclined but simultaneously appreciated the target language and culture. This was particularly the case for the female students who showed significantly higher instrumental motivation in Spanish learning. Significance – The study supports the claim that motivation is context-specific and at the same time provides a better understanding of a Malaysian situated phenomenon. Its findings have underscored that different learning contexts have different impacts on student motivation. It is hoped that the understanding of Malaysian student motivation may contribute useful insights to improve the curriculum and instruction of foreign language learning.https://www.e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/mjli/article/view/7758MotivationInstrumental motivationIntegrative motivationSpanish as a foreign languageTechnical educationContext-specific |
| spellingShingle | Hou-Keat Khong Nurul Husna Hassan Norasrani Ramli MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction Motivation Instrumental motivation Integrative motivation Spanish as a foreign language Technical education Context-specific |
| title | MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY |
| title_full | MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY |
| title_fullStr | MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY |
| title_full_unstemmed | MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY |
| title_short | MOTIVATION AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY |
| title_sort | motivation and gender differences in learning spanish as a foreign language in a malaysian technical university |
| topic | Motivation Instrumental motivation Integrative motivation Spanish as a foreign language Technical education Context-specific |
| url | https://www.e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/mjli/article/view/7758 |
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