Motivation of humanities students to learn foreign languages: Changes and trends

Abstract

Introduction. In teaching foreign languages to Russian students there is a tendency of decreasing motivation in learning European languages because of changes in the geopolitical situation. The aim of the article is to analyze the dynamics of the changes in students’motivation to learn English at Petrozavodsk State University from 2019 to 2022. Theoretical analysis. A comparative analysis of Russian and foreign studies shows that low motivation to learn prevents students from achieving high results. The motivational sphere is infl uenced by such objective and subjective factors as profession, age, gender, learning environment, and university curriculum. Empirical analysis. The study revealed two diff erent trends. If the future historians, political scientists, and social workers still show their interest in learning English for the purpose of self-education and self-realization, then among the students specializing in “Tourism” the decrease in motivation, caused by the reduction of opportunities to use English in their professional activities in the near future, was recorded. Conclusion. The authors conclude that the task of stimulating students’ interest in learning European languages in Russian universities and the search for new non-standard methods of teaching foreign languages does not lose its relevance.

Keywords

• foreign languages
• learning motivation
• intrinsic motivation
• students