Reading motivation in two languages: an examination of EFL college students in Korea

Abstract

This study was designed to identify underlying factors that motivate language learners to read in a foreign language (L2) context. It also examined the relationships between L1 and L2 reading motivation and any differences in reading motivation based on the learners’ academic majors and L2 reading proficiency. 259 Korean EFL college students participated in this study. Participants’ L1 and L2 reading motivation was measured using a Likert scale questionnaire and their L2 proficiency was estimated by test scores in their reading classes. This study yielded a four-factor solution for L2 reading motivation: learning goal-oriented motivation, intrinsic motivation, avoidance of reading, and utility value of L2 reading. The results indicated that learning goal-oriented motivation and utility value of L2 reading were the two primary indicators for the participants’ desire to read in English. The study also demonstrated that the factor-based L2 reading motivation scales correlated with some of the L1 reading motivation scales in the relatively low range but statements about the connection or transfer issue of reading motivation between the two languages must be tentative. All L2 reading motivation scales revealed significant differences between English and non-English majors except in utility value of L2 reading. Furthermore intrinsic and avoidance scales also differed significantly depending on the participants’ L2 reading proficiency.