English language learning motivation of students at the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Miercurea Ciuc

Authors

  • Zsuzsanna Dégi Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, P-ta Libertatii nr. 1, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
  • Orsolya Kovasch Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, P-ta Libertatii nr. 1, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.567.582

Keywords:

motivation, university students, Transylvania, global citizen

Abstract

Aim. The present research aims to explore the English language learning motivation of students at the Sapientia University, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, Miercurea-Ciuc (Csíkszereda).

Method. 103 students took part in the exploratory research where an online questionnaire containing 50 statements was used to find out students’ motivations to learn English, focusing on seven different motivational factors (instrumentality, desire to become a global citizen, ideal foreign language self, desire for self-satisfaction, attitudes towards learning English, cultural integration and ought-to foreign language self).

Results and conclusion. Results show that instrumental motivation has a strong effect on the surveyed students as they are highly motivated by the idea of getting a well-paying job with the help of their English language knowledge. Moreover, we also found out that participant students do not want to integrate within a native English-speaking community; they do not want to speak the language as native speakers, they rather aim to become global citizens with English.

Cognitive value. The results of this exploratory research might offer valuable insight into students’ language learning motivation. Therefore, the study might be helpful for university teachers to have detailed information and a clearer picture of their students’ language learning motivations.

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Author Biographies

Zsuzsanna Dégi, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, P-ta Libertatii nr. 1, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

Zsuzsanna Dégi is an assistant professor at the Sapientia Hungarian University, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering in Miercurea Ciuc. She teaches English morphology, English language teaching methodology and use of English. She obtained a PhD in English Applied Linguistics at the University of Szeged, Hungary. Her studies focus on the issues of multilingualism, multilingual teaching, classroom language use, language learning motivation, linguistic landscape and other pedagogical research related to the learning and teaching of English as a third language. 

Orsolya Kovasch, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics, Socio-Human Sciences and Engineering, P-ta Libertatii nr. 1, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

Orsolya Kovasch obtained her bachelor's degree in Kindergarden and Elementary School Pedagogy at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, her second BA in Romanian Language and Literature and English Language and Literature at the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania and her master's degree in Effective Learning Strategies at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca. Her studies focus on language learning motivation and on effective learning techniques.

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Published

2021-09-25

How to Cite

Dégi, Z. ., & Kovasch, O. (2021). English language learning motivation of students at the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Miercurea Ciuc. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 12(2), 567–582. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.567.582

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2021): Journal of Education Culture and Society

Section

LOCAL CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

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Copyright (c) 2021 Zsuzsanna Dégi, Orsolya Kovasch

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