Attitudes and Motivation in Second Language Learning

This study aims at investigating Malaysian students' attitudes toward Arabic and the impact it has on their first language and cultural identity. It also aims at exploring their attitudes toward the factors that have influenced their decision to study Arabic. In addition, the study attempts to explore their attitudes toward the courses they attend to learn this language. The sample of the study consists of (105) male and female students from two universities in the first-, second-, third- and fourth- academic years. The instrument used is a questionnaire which comprises (38) items developed to achieve the aims of the study. Results reveal that the students are more inclined to bilingualism and that they are more integratively motivated to study Arabic as a second language. They also reveal that there are many factors which make them more instrumentally and more integratively motivated. In addition, the results show no significant differences in the students' responses to the two motivational dimensions related to sex, parents' proficiency in Arabic, and level of study. However, they show a significant difference related to total grade average in the instrumental type of motivation. And finally, positive attitudes are shown toward the Arabic courses.