Instrumental and integrative motivation to learn English among students at Centre for Language and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

Abstract

This research sought to identify the motivation orientation of CELPAD English students of IIUM (whether they are instrumentally or integratively motivated to learn English). Another focus of this study was on examining the relationship between these two types of motivation and the differences of CELPAD students’ motivation based on their gender, nationality, age, and level of study. This study was conducted using a quantitative method. A questionnaire of 19 items was administered to 266 student from CELPAD-IIUM. The questionnaire was developed by Wimolmas, (2012), and it was adapted from Gardner’s Attitude/ Motivation Test Battery (AMTB). The students comprised 119 males and 147 females. They were from different nationalities, age groups and different levels of English proficiency. The results of this study revealed that instrumental motivation is the dominant type of motivation among CELPAD students, i.e., students at CELPAD are more instrumentally motivated to learn English. The study also found that the females’ motivation (both instrumental and integrative motivation) is higher than males’ motivation. The study shows that there is a significant difference in students’ motivation, particularly in students’ integrative motivation, in which the female students have higher level of integrative motivation than male students. Similarly, Malaysian students have higher level of motivation than non-Malaysian students. Finally, this study revealed that students aged more than 26 have less motivation than students who are younger.