Motivation Toward English Language Learning of Students in Secondary and High Schools in Education Service Area Office 4, Saraburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the English language learning motivation level of secondary and high schools students in Saraburi Province, and significant differences between the learning motivation of students with high academic achievement and that of other learners. A modified 20-item motivational survey adapted from Gardner's (1985) Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) was administered to 266 secondary and high school students in Education Service Area Office 4, Saraburi Province. The study results indicated that the students had high levels of motivation -both integrative and instrumental -to learn the English language, albeit their instrumental motivation slightly outperformed their integrative motivation. The study also showed that there was a significant difference (P-Value = 0.007) at the level of 0.01 between the learning motivation of students with high academic achievement (GPA≥3.20) and that of other peers (GPA ˂3.20).