Kurdish EFL learners' motivations to learn English : A survey-based study in Sanandaj, Iran

Sammanfattning

Language learning motivation is an essential factor influencing success in acquiring a second or foreign language, often categorized into integrative and instrumental orientations. This study aimed to investigate the motivations of Kurdish EFL learners in Sanandaj to learn English, focusing on the extent to which their orientation is instrumental or integrative and examining whether gender differences exist in these motivations. A quantitative method was used, employing a questionnaire based on Gardner's Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB), which was modified to measure motivational orientations and compare gender differences. The participants included 52 young adult Kurdish learners (22 males and 30 females) currently attending private English classes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and independent t-tests were conducted to examine gender differences. The results revealed that learners are predominantly instrumentally motivated, with females showing higher integrative motivation than males and males demonstrating slightly stronger instrumental motivation. The findings suggest that Kurdish learners largely view English as a practical tool for career and personal advancement, with females demonstrating stronger cultural motivations and males focusing more on practical outcomes.