Motivational Factors Influencing Thai Undergraduate Students’ Effort in Studying Translation

Information from the abstract

This mixed-method study aimed to investigate Thai undergraduate students’ motivation to study translation and examine the relationship between different motivational factors and their learning efforts. The participants were 114 English major students in a translation course at a Thai university. The study employed a motivation questionnaire to collect quantitative data on students’ learning efforts and motivational factors. The questionnaire was based on a combination of motivational frameworks, including the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) with its focus on the ideal self, the ought-to self, and the learning experience, as well as intrinsic motivation (interest and enjoyment), instrumental motivation, and English language mastery. Additionally, qualitative data were collected through a qualitative survey from 26 students who volunteered to give deeper insights into their motivations for studying translation. The findings revealed that English language mastery was the most prevalent motivator among the students. However, regression analysis indicated that only enjoyment, interest, and instrumental motivation significantly predicted students’ learning efforts in studying, accounting for 67.6% of the variance. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for designing translation courses that align more closely with students’ motivations, particularly by emphasizing enjoyment, interest, and instrumental motivation to create an engaging learning experience.

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Related topics: EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Translation Studies and Practices · Second Language Learning and Teaching