A Study on the Motivation Levels and Problems in the Language Learning for the Higher Education Learners

Abstract

Language builds social and economic connections within countries as the most effective communication tool. It has the potential to introduce new opportunities and helps the speakers become world citizens. Although second language teaching focuses more on early education in many countries, it is still crucial for university students to acquire a foreign language. Second language acquisition enables institutional cooperation not just on a domestic but also on an international scale, thus contributing significantly to universal and contemporary growth. This research aims to determine university students' motivations for learning a foreign language, identify the problems during the process, and offer solutions. For this purpose, the opinions of the German Language and Literature department students studying at a state university on language learning were evaluated by taking the "Motivation Scale in Language Learning" and semi-structured interview forms. This study relies on a mixed research method combining the quantitative and the qualitative. The findings point out that students have a good motivation to learn a language, and the motivations are the same regardless of age, gender, grade level, previous educational background, and parents' educational background. According to the findings, students' motivations are living abroad, cultural growth, curiosity, interest, love, and new technologies. On the other hand, the lack of sufficient incentives, linguistic challenge, feelings of inadequacy, and prejudices affect their motivation negatively.