Investigating education students’ language learning beliefs and motivation for learning English

Abstract

Institutions responsible for the training of educators have a duty to ensure that students develop adequate mastery of subject content and pedagogy. This paper investigates the language learning beliefs (LLBs) of pre-service Foundation and Intermediate Phase educators and their alignment with language learning principles from applied linguistics research on second language acquisition (SLA). The study also examines the students’ motives for learning English since motivation plays a part in sustaining language learning. Gardner’s socio-educational model and Dörnyei’s L2 motivational self system are used as theoretical frameworks in addition to the work of scholars such as Horwitz, Griffiths, and Weideman and Lepota on language learning strategies and beliefs. The results of a cross-sectional survey using the Beliefs About Language Learning and Motivation Inventory Modified (BALLMI-M) are analysed. The findings show that students are highly motivated to master English but do not wish to integrate with the English speech community. Furthermore, they lack understanding about the nature of language skills and have conflicting LLBs that should be addressed in futureamendments to the language curriculum.
 Keywords: language learning motivation, additional language teaching, literacy levels of Education students, language learning beliefs, language learning strategies