EXPLORING MOTIVATION TYPES AND STUDY HABITS OF TURKISH ADULT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

Year 2024, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 106 - 126, 23.12.2024

Suzan Astaneh Kaya , Gonca Ekşi

Abstract

Personal factors and thoughts on how one learns a language are observed as important issues for foreign language learning. The aim of this study is to examine motivation types, study habits,and main reasons for taking language courses. To this end, qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted. The participants included 102 Turkish adult EFL learnersattending a language course. Furthermore, 11 learners were chosen randomly to participate in the interview. The instruments included motivation questionnaire developed by Wimolmas (2013) and Palsan and Sharm Study Habits Inventory (1989). The data for qualitative phase was gathered by an open-ended semi-structured interview developed by the researcher. The validity and reliability were ensured. The data were evaluated by descriptive statistics. The qualitative data was analyzed by content analysis method. The obtained results revealed the main reason of taking language courses is finding a suitable/better job. The participants have high level of motivation and integrative motivation is higher. Learners’study habits are at average level, the component of Budgeting Time has the highest mean score, and Physical Condition component has the lowest mean score. In qualitative stage, the answers were categorized into main reasons, learning English for using abroad, English in professional situation, and general activities to practice English.

Keywords

EFL Learners, Instrumental Motivation, Integrative Motivation, Motivation, Study Habits

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