ESL pupils' attitude and motivation towards speaking in English language

Abstract

This research investigated the ESL pupils’ attitude and motivation towards speaking English. It aimed to examine the performance, attitude and motivation of pupils in speaking English language. Thirty two Year 6 pupils from the national primary school were the respondents of the study. The research instruments used were oral assessment, questionnaires and interview sessions. The data obtained were analysed manually. The oral assessment showed that the majority of the pupils did not achieve good results. The findings reveal that pupils have a negative attitude towards speaking English due to lack of motivation. Fear of making mistakes, being embarrassed by it and shyness caused pupils to develop a negative attitude towards speaking English. Lack of motivation to eliminate the negative attitude further discouraged pupils to speak the language. However, pupils responded positively to motivation and exposure to a variety of interactive speaking activities. Thus, teachers play a vital role in motivating pupils and giving them sufficient practice in speaking in order to boost their confidence and develop a positive attitude. It was also found that the pupils lack motivation and support from the parents and society in encouraging them to speak in English. Therefore, teachers, parents and society shoulder great responsibility in motivating pupils to speak English in the classroom and the real world.