The Relationship between General Motivation and Situation-Specific Attitudes and Beliefs Related to Learning English for Academic Purposes: It’s Impact on Academic Success

Yıl 2011, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 1, 547 - 569, 01.06.2011

Berrin Uçkun Gülay Tohumoğlu Suna Utar

Öz

The present study aims to document students’ perceptions of their learning experiences in an English-medium university, how certain situation-specific and learner-related variables are active in shaping these attitudes, and finally what is the impact of these variables on participants’ academic success. Participants’ Englishlearning background starting with secondary education as a variable yielded significant and positive associations with their academic success and their attitudes toward English-medium instruction. Positive attitudes that loaded on several factors correlated significantly and positively with each other and negatively so with factors of demotivated attitudes. Learner variables also proved to have a significant impact on participants’ attitudes. The article concludes by making suggestions to policy makers in the ministry of education and concerned universities.

Anahtar Kelimeler

foreign-language instruction, situation-specific variables, learner variables, student attitudes to English-medium education, tertiary education

Genel Güdülenme ile İngilizcenin Akademik Amaçlı Öğrenilmesine İlişkin Duruma-özgün Yaklaşım ve İnançlar Arasındaki İlişkinin Akademik Başarı Üzerine Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışma öğretim dilinin İngilizce olduğu üniversitelerde öğrencilerin öğrenim deneyimleri ile ilgili görüşlerini, bu görüşlerinin oluşturulmasında etkili olan duruma-özgü ve öğrenciye-özgü değişkenlerin belirlenmesi ve bu değişkenlerin öğrencinin akademik başarısı üzerindeki etkisini belirlemek üzere yürütülmüştür. Orta öğretimden başlayarak İngilizce-öğrenme deneyimleri ile öğrencinin akademik başarısı ve İngilizce ortamında öğrenim görme ile ilgili düşünceleri arasında anlamlı ve olumlu bir ilişki ortaya çıkmıştır. Birkaç faktör altında toplanan olumlu görüşler arasında yüksek oranda olumlu ve anlamlı korelasyon varken olumsuz güdülenme faktörleri ile arasında da zıt yönde ve anlamlı korelasyon ilişkileri gözlemlendi. Öğrenciye-özgü değişkenlerin de öğrenci görüşlerini etkilediği belirlendi. Makalenin sonunda milli eğitim bakanlığı ve yükseköğretim kurumlarındaki yetkililere sonuçlarla ilgili önerilerde bulunulmakta

Anahtar Kelimeler

yabancı dil ortamında eğitim, duruma-özel değişkenler, öğrenci değişkenleri, İngilizce ortamında eğitime öğrenci yaklaşımları, yükseköğretim

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