Tertiary Learners’ Motivational Intensity and Desire to Learn the French Language: Evidence from a Non-Francophone Country

Abstract

Motivational intensity is fundamental for any language learner in order to succeed. This research addressed motivational intensity in the context of French language learners in a non-francophone country, Yemen. It also investigated the level of desire to learn French among university students. The present research answered the following questions: Do undergraduate learners of the French language have a high or a low level of motivational intensity in their learning of French? How much do undergraduate learners of the French language desire to learn French? Among the undergraduate learners of the French language, is there any gender difference in the level of motivational intensity and their desire to learn French? A stratified random sample of 69 students was sampled out of a population of 145 enrolled students from different levels in the Department of French Language and Literature at Sana’a University. The survey was comprised of 11 questions that were selected and modified from Gardner’s Attitude, Motivation Test Battery Questionnaire (1985a). The items for this survey addressed two specific variables: motivational intensity and desire to learn French. The findings of this research showed that Yemeni undergraduate learners of French have a high level of motivational intensity and a significant amount of desire for learning the French language and culture. The findings also implied that male learners have a slightly higher level of motivational intensity and desire to learn French than their female counterparts.

Keywords

• motivational intensity
• learning french as a foreign language
• gender difference