Prediction of ELT Students’ Academic (Language) Achievement: Language Learning Orientation and Autonomous Learning

Abstract

Learner autonomy is frequently debated among English language teachers and scholars around the world. From the perspective of Self-determination theory, autonomy supported learning environment has close relation with intrinsic motivation, higher perceived competence and academic achievement. The present study aims to define the prediction level of ELT students' academic achievement using their language learning orientation and autonomous learning. The participants of the study were the undergraduate students from two different universities studying in English Language Teaching departments. Results show that there is a positive correlation between intrinsic motivation and academic achievement, and also between autonomous learning and academic achievement. The regression analysis shows that autonomous learning and intrinsic motivation predict academic achievement strongly.