Experimental Study of the Leading Motives in Learning a Foreign Language

Abstract

The paper deals with studying the problem of motivation in foreign language learning. This work is performed within the general topic of scientific research on building a concept for improving students' motivation in learning a foreign language by means of musical influence. Development of this concept provides for the experimental study and clarification of leading motives for learning a foreign language. In our paper we discuss the particularities of foreign language as an academic discipline and students' psycho-physiological particularities reducing their motivation. The results of the experiment show that the interest of students to learning a foreign language is episodic in nature. The leading kind of motivation is the coercion motive i.e. seeking to avoid troubles and criticism. Initially set up to failure, the students feel insecure and anxious. We assume that the musical art included into learning activities in a natural manner promotes the creation of positive emotions, development of interest in studying the subject and thus improves the quality of education. Adjustment of emotional state of the educational activities subject using music contributes to optimization of learning activities. So, we see the prospect of our further research in selecting pieces of music and studying their impact on the subject of academic activities as psychological tools for creating emotional comfort, developing the interest in the study of the subject and, as a consequence, increasing the efficiency of the educational process.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p115