Psychological Perspectives Toward Student’s Incompetency in Foreign Language Course
Keywords:
Foreign language, motivation, student’s incompetency
Abstract
Learning a foreign language enables learners to go further after graduation. In today’s world, there is a need for students to be able to communicate in at least one foreign language so that they can function well globally. This study investigates learning the German language among engineering students who are taking a dual degree program in a public university in east coast Malaysia. The objectives of the study were: (a) to determine the students’ attitude in learning German language; (b) gauge their understanding of the course in terms of materials and lessons used in learning the language; and (c) identify their motivation and performances taking German language. Using a descriptive research design, 60 students were involved as respondents in this study. Their responses to the researchers’ questionnaire were gathered in a WhatsApp group called Success German Course (SGC). The results of the study indicated that students demonstrated moderate attitude in learning the course since some of them were eager to learn the language while others were not. Some students reported failing to understand the course in the use of the current materials and lessons. Although they showed positive attitude in learning the course, their performances, nevertheless, were not encouraging because they did not have sufficient time to learn the language. It is concluded that students need to learn study skills to help them to be more competence in foreign language proficiency. The overall findings implied th
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References
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Ainol Madziah Zubairi, Isarji Hj Sarudin & Mohamad Sahari Nordin. (2007). A study of the effectiveness of foreign language programs in Malaysia. Proceedings in the 32nd Annual Congress of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia, Making a Difference: Challenges for Applied Linguistics, University of Wollongong, 1-3 July, 2007.
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Ulfa, M., & Bania, A. S. (2019). EFL student’s motivation in learning English in Langsa, Aceh. Studies in English Language and Education, 6(1), 163-170.
Usman, B., Silviyanti, T. M. & Marzatillah. (2016). The influence of teacher’s competence towards the motivation of students in learning English. Studies in English Language and Education, 3(2), 134-146.
Wenden, A. (1991). Learner strategies for learner autonomy. London: Prentice Hall.
Yakovleva, N. O., & Yakovlev, E. V. (2014). Interactive teaching methods in contemporary higher education. Pacific Science Review, 16(2), 75–80. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscr.2014.08.016
Zubairi, A. M., & Sarudin, I. H. (2009). Motivation to learn a foreign language in Malaysia. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 9(2).
Ainol Madziah Zubairi, Isarji Hj Sarudin & Mohamad Sahari Nordin. (2007). A study of the effectiveness of foreign language programs in Malaysia. Proceedings in the 32nd Annual Congress of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia, Making a Difference: Challenges for Applied Linguistics, University of Wollongong, 1-3 July, 2007.
Almeida, P. A. (2012). Can I ask a question? The importance of classroom questioning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 634-638.
Ambigapathy, P. (2002). English language teaching in Malaysia today. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 22(2), 35-52. Retrieved 30 January, 2011 from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0218879020220205#preview
Azar, A. S., & Tanggaraju, D. (2020). Motivation in second language acquisition among learners in Malaysia. Studies in English Language and Education, 7(2), 323-333.
Azizi Ismail. (2018). Opening Ceremony Speech in 6th Malaysia International Conference on Foreign Language 2018. Auditorium Rashdan Baba. Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Azman Che Mat. (2010). Situasi pembelajaran bahasa asing di Institut Pengajian Tinggi: Perbandingan antara bahasa arab, bahasa mandarin dan bahasa perancis. ASEAN Journal of teaching and learning in Higher Education (AJTLHE), 2(2), 9-20.
Cambridge University Press. (2021). Competency-based Education. Retrieved on 1st January 2021 from https://www.cambridge.org/us/cambridgeenglish/better-learning-archive/stronger-results/competency-based-education
De Burgh-Hirabe, R. (2019). Motivation to learn Japanese as a foreign language in an English speaking country: An exploratory case study in New Zealand. System, 80, 95–106. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.11.001
Dornyei, Z. (2002). Motivation in action: Towards a process-oriented conceptualisation of student motivation. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70, 519-538.
Gardner, R. (1983). Learning another language: A true social psychological experiment. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2, 219-240.
Hazita Azman. (1999). Multilingual literacies in rural Malaysia: National goals and local practices [Unpublished Ph.D. thesis]. Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia.
Hidayatul Akmal Ahmad. (2018). Mahir bahasa asing buka lebih peluang kerja. Berita Harian Online. Retrieved on 1st February 2021 from https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2018/03/396747/mahir-bahasa-asing-buka-
Kutbiddinova, R. A., & Eromasova, A. (2016). The use of interactive methods in the educational process of the Higher Education Institution. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 11(14), 6557–6572.
Leila Anjomshoa & Firooz Sadighi. (2015). The importance of motivation in second language acquisition. International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL). 3(2), 126-137.
Lei, S. A. (2010) Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: Evaluating benefits and drawbacks from college instructors’ perspectives. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 37(2), 153-160.
Matters, E. C. E. (2020). How To Study a Foreign Language. Retrived on 2nd January 2021 from https://www.educationcorner.com/foreign-language-study-skills-guide.html
Normazidah Che Musa, Koo Yew Lie & Hazita Azman (2012). Exploring english language learning and teaching in Malaysia. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 12(1), Special Section, 35-51.
Oflaz, A. (2019). The Effects of anxiety, shyness and language learning strategies on speaking skills and academic achievement. European Journal of Educational Research, 8(4), 999 - 1011.
Oga-Baldwin, W. L. Q., Nakata, Y., Parker, P., & Ryan, R. M. (2017). Motivating young language learners: A longitudinal model of self-determined motivation in elementary school foreign language classes. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 49, 140–150. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2017.01.010
Pintrich, P. R. (2000). Multiple goals, multiple pathways: The role of goal orientations in learning and achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 544-555.
Siti Khasinah. (2014). Factors influencing second language acquisition. Englisia, 1(2), 256-269.
Shofner, K. (n.d). Communicating in high context vs. low context culture, Available at https://www.unitedlanguagegroup.com/blog/communicating-high-context-vs-low-context-culture
Thaliyil, B. (n.d.). Need for revision, renewal and reification of curriculum. https://www.slideshare.net/bavijesh/need-for-curriculum-revision#:~:text=NEED FOR REVISION IN CURRICULUM,content%2C new knowledge and practices.
The Ministry of Higher Education. (2007). The National Higher Education Strategic Plan beyond 2020. The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia Press.
Ulfa, M., & Bania, A. S. (2019). EFL student’s motivation in learning English in Langsa, Aceh. Studies in English Language and Education, 6(1), 163-170.
Usman, B., Silviyanti, T. M. & Marzatillah. (2016). The influence of teacher’s competence towards the motivation of students in learning English. Studies in English Language and Education, 3(2), 134-146.
Wenden, A. (1991). Learner strategies for learner autonomy. London: Prentice Hall.
Yakovleva, N. O., & Yakovlev, E. V. (2014). Interactive teaching methods in contemporary higher education. Pacific Science Review, 16(2), 75–80. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscr.2014.08.016
Zubairi, A. M., & Sarudin, I. H. (2009). Motivation to learn a foreign language in Malaysia. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 9(2).
Published
2021-10-10
How to Cite
Abdul Aziz, A. R., Sawai, R. P., Sulaiman, S., Rahimi, K. A., Sawai, J. P. and Abdul Wahab, M. N. (2021) “Psychological Perspectives Toward Student’s Incompetency in Foreign Language Course”, Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 6(10), pp. 393 - 403. doi: 10.47405/mjssh.v6i10.1124.
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