Learning English as a second language (ESL) requires a high level of motivation especially among university students. This study examines the influence of value components of motivation to learn English in Malaysia, where attitudes towards language learning are generally considered moderate. A quantitative survey of 104 full-time and part-time undergraduate students was conducted using a Likert scale questionnaire with three (3) main sections: value, expectancy, and affective components. The findings show that both groups of students have different motivational expectations and perceptions, but extrinsic goal orientation (value components) was rated highest by students in both study modes. They also show strong confidence in their academic abilities and learning. Analysis of the affective components show test-related emotional experiences, while overall there were no significant motivational differences between the different learning modes. Recommendations include tailored learning support and managing test anxiety to increase ESL students' motivation.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and
the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and researching motivation (2nd ed.).
Routledge.
Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annu. Rev.
Psychol. 53, 109–132. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135153
Fandiño, F. G. E., Muñoz, L. D., & Velandia, A. J. S. (2019). Motivation and E-Learning
English as a foreign language: A qualitative study. Heliyon, 5(9).
Farihah, S. N., & Umamah, A. (2021). Non-English University Students Motivation in
Learning English Online. English Language in Focus (ELIF), 4(1), 41-50.
Gardner, A. C., Maietta, H. N., Gardner, P. D., & Perkins, N. (2022). Postsecondary adult
learner motivation: An analysis of credentialing patterns and decision making within higher education programs. Adult Learning, 33(1), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159520988361
Gardner, R. C. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes
and motivation. Edward Arnold.
Geng, Y., & Jin, L. (2023). Researching older adults’ motivation to learn English in the
Chinese universities of the third age: An elicited metaphor analysis. System, 114, 103032.
Hafizah, D., & Fithriani, R. (2023). An Investigation Of Efl Young Learners’interest And
Motivation In Learning English: A Case Study Of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Students. Attadib: Journal of Elementary Education, 7(2).
Jackson, S.L. (2015). Research methods and Statistics-A Critical Thinking Approach (5tH
Edition) Boston, USA: Cengage Learning.
Jenal, N., Taib, S. A., Iliyas, S. M. M., Sa’adan, N., Saleh, N. S., & Noorezam, M. (2022).
Investigating Students’ Learning Motivation Based on Value, Expectancy, and Affective Components. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(10), 641 – 661.
Liu, I. F. (2020). The impact of extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and social self-
efficacy on English competition participation intentions of pre-college learners: Differences between high school and vocational students in Taiwan. Learning and Motivation, 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2020.101675
Noprival, N. (2022). Indonesian Pharmacy Students' Motivations for Learning English: A
Qualitative Case Study. Silampari Bisa: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Bahasa Indonesia, Daerah, dan Asing, 5(2), 293-301.
Omolu, F. (2018). Correlation of employment status, motivation and achievement in learning.
Jurnal Pendidikan Glasser, 2(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.32529/glasser.v2i2.17
Pintrich, P. R., & De Groot E. V. (1990). Motivational and self-regulated learning
Components of classroom academic performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 33–40. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-0663.82.1.33
Purnama, N. A., Rahayu, N. S., & Yugafiati, R. (2019). Students’ motivation in learning
English. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 2(4), 539
Rahmat,N,H , Sukimin, I.S., Sim,M.K., Anuar,M., & Mohandas,E.S. (2021) Online Learning
Motivation and Satisfaction: A Case Study of Undergraduates vs Postgraduates. International Journal of Asian Social Sciences, 11(2), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2021.112.88.97
Rani & Lenka (2012). Motivation and work motivation:concepts, theories and researches.
International Journal of research in IT & Management, 2(8), 1-13.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions
and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54–67. https://doi.org/10.1006/CEPS.1999.1020
Song, X. (2012). Exploring academic motivation of Canadian Master of Education learners.
Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education/Revue canadienne des jeunes chercheures et chercheurs en éducation, 4(1).
Thirusanku, J., & Yunus, M. M. (2014). Status of English in Malaysia. Asian Social Science,
10, 254-260. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v10n14p254
Urban, K., & Jirsáková, J. (2022). Motivation and personality traits in adult learners. Journal
of Adult and Continuing Education, 28(1), 151–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/14779714211000361
Walter, J., & Hart, J. (2009). Understanding the complexities of student motivations in
mathematics learning. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 28, 162-170. doi: 10.1016/j.jmathb.2009.07.001
Zukiflei, K., & Said, N. E. M. (2020). Language Attitude among Malaysian Secondary
School Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(6), 841–855.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and
the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and researching motivation (2nd ed.).
Routledge.
Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annu. Rev.
Psychol. 53, 109–132. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135153
Fandiño, F. G. E., Muñoz, L. D., & Velandia, A. J. S. (2019). Motivation and E-Learning
English as a foreign language: A qualitative study. Heliyon, 5(9).
Farihah, S. N., & Umamah, A. (2021). Non-English University Students Motivation in
Learning English Online. English Language in Focus (ELIF), 4(1), 41-50.
Gardner, A. C., Maietta, H. N., Gardner, P. D., & Perkins, N. (2022). Postsecondary adult
learner motivation: An analysis of credentialing patterns and decision making within higher education programs. Adult Learning, 33(1), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159520988361
Gardner, R. C. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes
and motivation. Edward Arnold.
Geng, Y., & Jin, L. (2023). Researching older adults’ motivation to learn English in the
Chinese universities of the third age: An elicited metaphor analysis. System, 114, 103032.
Hafizah, D., & Fithriani, R. (2023). An Investigation Of Efl Young Learners’interest And
Motivation In Learning English: A Case Study Of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Students. Attadib: Journal of Elementary Education, 7(2).
Jackson, S.L. (2015). Research methods and Statistics-A Critical Thinking Approach (5tH
Edition) Boston, USA: Cengage Learning.
Jenal, N., Taib, S. A., Iliyas, S. M. M., Sa’adan, N., Saleh, N. S., & Noorezam, M. (2022).
Investigating Students’ Learning Motivation Based on Value, Expectancy, and Affective Components. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(10), 641 – 661.
Liu, I. F. (2020). The impact of extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and social self-
efficacy on English competition participation intentions of pre-college learners: Differences between high school and vocational students in Taiwan. Learning and Motivation, 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2020.101675
Noprival, N. (2022). Indonesian Pharmacy Students' Motivations for Learning English: A
Qualitative Case Study. Silampari Bisa: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Bahasa Indonesia, Daerah, dan Asing, 5(2), 293-301.
Omolu, F. (2018). Correlation of employment status, motivation and achievement in learning.
Jurnal Pendidikan Glasser, 2(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.32529/glasser.v2i2.17
Pintrich, P. R., & De Groot E. V. (1990). Motivational and self-regulated learning
Components of classroom academic performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 33–40. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-0663.82.1.33
Purnama, N. A., Rahayu, N. S., & Yugafiati, R. (2019). Students’ motivation in learning
English. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 2(4), 539
Rahmat,N,H , Sukimin, I.S., Sim,M.K., Anuar,M., & Mohandas,E.S. (2021) Online Learning
Motivation and Satisfaction: A Case Study of Undergraduates vs Postgraduates. International Journal of Asian Social Sciences, 11(2), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2021.112.88.97
Rani & Lenka (2012). Motivation and work motivation:concepts, theories and researches.
International Journal of research in IT & Management, 2(8), 1-13.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions
and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54–67. https://doi.org/10.1006/CEPS.1999.1020
Song, X. (2012). Exploring academic motivation of Canadian Master of Education learners.
Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education/Revue canadienne des jeunes chercheures et chercheurs en éducation, 4(1).
Thirusanku, J., & Yunus, M. M. (2014). Status of English in Malaysia. Asian Social Science,
10, 254-260. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v10n14p254
Urban, K., & Jirsáková, J. (2022). Motivation and personality traits in adult learners. Journal
of Adult and Continuing Education, 28(1), 151–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/14779714211000361
Walter, J., & Hart, J. (2009). Understanding the complexities of student motivations in
mathematics learning. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 28, 162-170. doi: 10.1016/j.jmathb.2009.07.001
Zukiflei, K., & Said, N. E. M. (2020). Language Attitude among Malaysian Secondary
School Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(6), 841–855.
