Attitudes and Motivation as Predictors of Perception of English Language Proficiency: Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Abstract

English is the most widely spoken and written language in the world, so many students have different perceptions of English language proficiency, so there is a need to investigate the predictors of English language learning. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between attitudes towards learning English and motivation towards English learning under the SEM model as predictors of perception of English language proficiency in Peruvian university students. The sample consisted of 711 Peruvian students from a private university (442 females = 62.2% and 269 males = 37.8%). The questionnaire of attitudes towards learning English, motivation towards English, and socio-demographic questions were used, including the perception of English language proficiency. The proposed model obtained a satisfactory fit. Attitudes towards learning English explain 10% of the perception of English language proficiency, but with motivation towards English as the mediating variable. According to the established criteria, the goodness of fit of the model was confirmed (?2 = 383.78; df =3; p .000; RMSEA = 0.06; AGFI= 0.97; TLI = .97; CFI = .99), which confirms the fact that all the values obtained are acceptable. Received: 10 May 2024 / Accepted: xx October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024