The role of motivation in developing autonomy among university EFL students in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Students’ Attitudes

Abstract

This study, which used a mixed-method approach, is an extract from a PhD thesis on the role of motivation in the effort to promote greater learner autonomy among university level EFL students, especially in terms of the Kurdish context in which the research was set. The research used the English Language Departments of the University of Salahaddin — situated in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq‘s capital city Erbil — the University of Sulaimani in Slemani, and the University of Duhok in Duhok as the study site. These were selected, as the subject of learner autonomy has not been regularly included as one of their learning objectives. The sample population was made up of 211 students. After a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted, the collected data showed there was a positive attitude toward the role of motivation in developing learner autonomy in principle but that this did not translate into its practical application by the students even though they displayed a strong desire to see themselves become autonomous learners.