University Students" Motivation to Read in English as a Foreign Language

University Students" Motivation to Read in English as a Foreign Language

  This study investigated motivational factors influencing EFL university students" reading in English as a foreign language. A total of 204 freshmen taking a required English reading class completed a Questionnaire that assessed their motivation in English reading. A principal component analysis with a varimax rotation solution identified five underlying factors: (l) self-confident engagement in English reading, (2) perceived usefulness of reading in English, (3) importance of reading in English, (4) interest in reading, and (5) intrinsic motivation for reading in English. The factor analysis results showed multidimensionality of foreign language reading motivation. Furthermore, this study suggests that language learning motivation, especially in academic settings, should be differentiated across the four skill areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking.