FOR STUDY, FUTURE CAREER AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: FEMALE SANTRIS’ MOTIVATIONS FOR LEARNING ENGLISH

Abstract

This paper reports a survey study investigating motivation for learning English of Indonesian female students. The participants were 200 female students of a senior high school of a pesantren in West Java, Indonesia who participated voluntarily. The data was gained through close-ended and open-ended questionnaires. The close-ended questionnaire was adapted from Choosri’s (2011) instrument. The data from the close-ended questionnaire was analyzed quantitatively involving average score and percentage using Microsoft Excel statistical package; whereas the data from the open-ended questionnaire was analyzed qualitatively using Miles and Huberman’s (1994) framework of qualitative data analysis. Based on the data, it was found that the students’ motivations were more instrumental than integrative, especially to continue their study to the university level, to broaden their knowledge, achieve good grade/score, and achieve better career. It was also revealed that religious motivation of learning English existed among the students: expecting to be future pendakwah ‘Muslim preacher’ and making silaturahmi (knowing more and communicating) with English speaking Muslims.