Motivation Et Attitudes Envers L’apprentissage Du Français Langue Étrangère: Le Cas Des Étudiants Du Niveau 200 De L’université De Cape Coast

Abstract

This study deals with motivation and attitude towards the study of French language. It aims at determining the level of motivation of the students and their attitude towards French learning situation. Overall, 84 students were selected among 278 level 200 students using stratified random sampling technique. The study used mixed methods approach. The questionnaire used to collect the quantitative data was based on the Attitude and Motivation Test Battery of Gardner (1985). The qualitative data was obtained via group interview. Both quantitative and qualitative data revealed that students’ instrumental orientation was high whilst their integrative orientation was low. Attitude towards French learning and French course were moderately unfavorable. However, attitude toward French lectures were favorable and the desire to learn French was high. The motivational intensity was low. The qualitative data showed that the unfavorable attitudes would be attributable to a gap between the students’ level of mastery of the French language and the requirements at the university level, the lack of patience of some lecturers, rigid mode of assessment according to the students, the exclusive use of French Language by some lecturers, the many aspects of the language to study within a semester as well as the sociolinguistic environment. The study suggests among other things the use of motivational strategies, the improvement of sociolinguistic environment and early and continuous contact with the language during the pre-tertiary education.