The Role of Motivation in Second Language Learning in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia
This paper attempts to shed light on Saudi college students’ internal motivational set up and how it negatively impacts their learning outcomes at the tertiary level at King Khalid University. To investigate that, a questionnaire that consists of ten questions was conducted on 90 (ninety) students selected from level four and eight in the Department of English of the same university. The responses of the learners indicate that the majority of the respondents are not highly motivated and chose English as a major- for their B.A. course- against their will as there were no other alternatives for several reasons. The results show- not surprisingly though- that most of the students are driven by extrinsic motivation to study English in order to get good jobs.The statistics obtained from the Department, of deprived and withdrawn students are quite high and that confirm the researchers' hypothesis of students' demotivation in the Department of English. Finally, researchers have suggested some remedial academic initiatives to help these undergraduate Saudi students in the Department of English at King Khalid University to overcome the difficulties and problems resulting from extrinsic motivation and showing ways of attaining positive (intrinsic) motivational make up that initiates true, life-long learning.