Motivational Factors for Learning English as a Second Language Acquisition in Canada

Shahla Sattar Khan and Mehmet Takkac

Higher Education Studies, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 160-170

Abstract: New immigrants' arrival in any country indeed brings new challenges to settle in the country. Learning the language of a new country is one of the major hassles in settling and starting a new life. In Canada, new immigrants must learn English as a second language because English is an official language and is also used day to day in almost all provinces except for a few states where the French language is more acceptable compared to English. Learning English requires motivation and there are some barriers in learning. Thus, this study addresses these barriers and assesses what motivational factors are there for new immigrants to learn English. It was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at a poly-cultural center, and Canada from June-2018 to December-2018. A total of 325 participants who registered and gave consent were included in this study. The results showed that factor 1 (Desire for career and economic enhancement) is significantly associated with age groups (P=0.001), gender (0.001), educational status (P=0.012), and time in Canada (P=0.027). Factor 2 (Desire to become a global citizen) is not significantly associated with all demographic data except for gender (P=0.027). Factor 3 (Desire to communicate and affiliate with foreigners) shows an association with all other demographic characteristics, except for gender (P=0.63), nationality (P=0.568), and educational status (P=0.091). In factor 4 (Desire for self-satisfaction), only educational status (P=0.046) has a significant association. Factor 5 (self-efficacy) and factor 6 (Desire to be integrated with other cultures) do not show any significant association with any demographic characteristics. In conclusion, the main motivating factors for new immigrants learning English as a second language acquisition is the desire for career and economic enhancement and the desire to communicate and affiliate with foreigners.

Keywords: motivation; barriers; English; learning; second language; acquisition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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