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Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University

Received: 11 February 2021     Accepted: 24 February 2021     Published: 29 April 2021
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Abstract

This study sought to examine students’ motivation for studying Ghanaian languages in University of Cape Coast. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 144 students in University of Cape Coast. The statistical methods employed were descriptive and inferential statistics. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to test the hypotheses set to guide the study. It was revealed that students were motivated by both instrumental and integrative factors. However, it was revealed that students were more motivated by integrative factors than instrumental factors. Also, there were no differences between male and female students concerning how motivated they are in studying Ghanaian languages. Finally, it was revealed that students who believed they were pursuing Ghanaian languages because it has been prescribed as part of the university’s requirement for fulfilling the Bachelor of Arts Education honour were less motivated while students who are pursuing it because it is their desired programme of study were more motivated. Contrary to the preconceived notion that Ghanaian language students are using their programme of study as an easy route to attain good grades, it could be concluded that they are rather impelled by the desire to get a better knowledge of the Ghanaian culture.

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13
Page(s) 43-52
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Motivation, Integrative Motivation, Instrumental Motivation, Language of Instruction, Language in Education Policy

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ernest Nyamekye, Daniel Baffour-Koduah. (2021). Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 7(2), 43-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13

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    ACS Style

    Ernest Nyamekye; Daniel Baffour-Koduah. Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2021, 7(2), 43-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13

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    AMA Style

    Ernest Nyamekye, Daniel Baffour-Koduah. Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2021;7(2):43-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13,
      author = {Ernest Nyamekye and Daniel Baffour-Koduah},
      title = {Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {43-52},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20210702.13},
      abstract = {This study sought to examine students’ motivation for studying Ghanaian languages in University of Cape Coast. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 144 students in University of Cape Coast. The statistical methods employed were descriptive and inferential statistics. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to test the hypotheses set to guide the study. It was revealed that students were motivated by both instrumental and integrative factors. However, it was revealed that students were more motivated by integrative factors than instrumental factors. Also, there were no differences between male and female students concerning how motivated they are in studying Ghanaian languages. Finally, it was revealed that students who believed they were pursuing Ghanaian languages because it has been prescribed as part of the university’s requirement for fulfilling the Bachelor of Arts Education honour were less motivated while students who are pursuing it because it is their desired programme of study were more motivated. Contrary to the preconceived notion that Ghanaian language students are using their programme of study as an easy route to attain good grades, it could be concluded that they are rather impelled by the desire to get a better knowledge of the Ghanaian culture.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Students’ Motivation for Learning Ghanaian Languages in the University
    AU  - Ernest Nyamekye
    AU  - Daniel Baffour-Koduah
    Y1  - 2021/04/29
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13
    T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
    JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
    JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
    SP  - 43
    EP  - 52
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2472-1271
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20210702.13
    AB  - This study sought to examine students’ motivation for studying Ghanaian languages in University of Cape Coast. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 144 students in University of Cape Coast. The statistical methods employed were descriptive and inferential statistics. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to test the hypotheses set to guide the study. It was revealed that students were motivated by both instrumental and integrative factors. However, it was revealed that students were more motivated by integrative factors than instrumental factors. Also, there were no differences between male and female students concerning how motivated they are in studying Ghanaian languages. Finally, it was revealed that students who believed they were pursuing Ghanaian languages because it has been prescribed as part of the university’s requirement for fulfilling the Bachelor of Arts Education honour were less motivated while students who are pursuing it because it is their desired programme of study were more motivated. Contrary to the preconceived notion that Ghanaian language students are using their programme of study as an easy route to attain good grades, it could be concluded that they are rather impelled by the desire to get a better knowledge of the Ghanaian culture.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
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Author Information
  • Department of Arts Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

  • Department of Arts Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

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