Friends’ Impact on Learners’ Motivation to Learn the English Language

Abstract

Motivation is vital in specifying learners' willingness and eagerness to communicate. Also, can be a blend of effort, longing to gain the goal of acquiring the language, and positive perceptions of learning the language. This study aims to investigate the impact of friends on Kurdish EFL learners’ motivation to learn the English language and to understand the extent to which they improve their language proficiency through friends. To achieve this, a questionnaire was utilized to collect the necessary data from 80 students in college of Education/ English Language Department/Knowledge University. The questionnaire contained 25 items aimed to explore their attitudes regarding their friends’ role in motivating them to learn English. The data was analyzed through Microsoft Excel to provide in-depth results. The findings of the study revealed that friends have a role in motivating their peers to learn and improve their English language proficiency. Moreover, the results showed that learners can acquire the language better when they speak English with their friends. Concerning improving learners’ language skills, the findings also indicated that friends could create a friendly environment for practicing the language. Additionally, the study demonstrated that students prefer learning and practicing the English language with the support of their peers rather than teachers.