Motivation Types: A Key Factor in Self-regulated ESP Learning

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of motivational orientations, or various forms of motivation, on the success of foreign language (L2) learning as a measure of self-regulation for ESP (English for Specific Purposes) students. It has been postulated that the nature of motivation has a substantial impact on second language (L2) learning, as evidenced by success as a measure of self-regulated learning. This association remains consistent even when moderator variables such as gender, age at which L2 learning begins, and years of L2 learning are integrated. This empirical research covered 460 respondents, of whom 245 (53%) were male. The students attended the Faculty of Technical Sciences (FTS) at the University of Novi Sad. The Foreign Language Learning Motivation Questionnaire (LLOS-IEA) was used as an instrument. Scale reliabilities were measured using Cronbach’s alpha indicating satisfactory reliability. An achievement test with 50 tasks and a general data questionnaire were applied. PROCESS macro for SPSS was used for statistical analyses. The initial results indicate that students are highly motivated, with Intrinsic regulation (Knowledge, Achievement, and Stimulation) and Identified regulation achieving the highest scores with good motivational orientation that are significant predictors of self-regulation, which was also seen as an indicator on the L2 achievement test. Additionally, their levels of amotivation are low, while their levels of various categories of motivation are moderate. A notable positive predictor is identified regulation, suggesting that motivation facilitated by identified regulation is linked to an improved grade in L2 and overall achievement. Furthermore, it was determined that ESP students exhibit distinct types of motivation compared to other students, which serves as an indicator of self-regulation in ESP learning. It was established that ESP accomplishments are determined by the types of motivation present in L2 learning. The age of starting L2 learning, years of L2 learning, and gender are insignificant factors in the relationship between the observed variables. Also, it is recommended that future studies should be based on a larger corpus and include not only students of the technical sciences but also students of the social sciences in order to overcome its limitations.