Instrumental and integrative motivation in teaching English for medical purposes

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this paper is to determine the degree and type of motivation for learning English for specific purposes in the first year medical students of the Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad. The paper presents the results of the research on instrumental and integrative motivation carried out in a sample of 61 first year medical students of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad. Material and Methods. The paper is based on a survey carried out during the summer semester of 2017/18. An anonymous survey was conducted through a questionnaire that investigated instrumental and integrative motivation. In addition, the questionnaire included questions on the year of study, semester, number of years of learning English and regularity of attendance. Results. The results are presented in a table and the answers are expressed in percentages. The results were analyzed in two segments, based on the type of motivation that was tested. The research confirmed the hypothesis that medical students had high levels of instrumental motivation, mostly focused on their further advancement in the profession. The research also showed a strong integrative motivation of the respondents and their interest in the elements of culture and civilization of the target language. Conclusion. In conclusion, the possible impacts of this research on practical English teaching for medical purposes should be considered in order to provide guidance for further research.