A Comparison of Students’ Motivation for Learning English as A Foreign Language in Selected Public and Private Schools in Bangkok

Abstract

This study tried to find the students’ motivation for learning English as a foreign language (EFL) in selected public and private schools in Bangkok, Prawate district. It sought to ascertain the level of students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in language learning; examine the motivational patterns of Thai elementary school students studying English as a foreign language; and the motivation important for the student learning English. The high motivation of students in English language learning in both public and private schools bring them to a successful in their language learning. This study looked at a population of 486 Grade 4 - Grade 6 students from one public school and one private school in Prawate district and gave them a survey which checked for students’ motivation in learning English as foreign language. The study had four objectives which were to 1) to identify the level of intrinsic motivation to learn English for students in public and private school, 2) identify the level of extrinsic motivation to learn English for students in public and private schools, 3) to compare the difference in intrinsic motivation to learn English between students in public school and private school, and 4) to compare the difference in extrinsic motivation to learn English between students in Public Schools and Private Schools.

The study’s findings were 1) the levels of intrinsic motivation to learn English of students in public and private Schools was high; 2) the levels of extrinsic motivation to learn English of students in Public and Private School was high; 3) there were significant levels differences between intrinsic motivation Public School and Private School; and 4) there were significant levels differences extrinsic motivation between public school and private school.