Grade 9 And 11 Students’ Attitude and Motivation towards Local Languages in Education: The Case of Bishoftu Secondary and Preparatory Schools
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to investigate grade nine and eleven students’ attitude and
motivation towards local languages in education. The study was carried out in Bishoftu
Secondary and preparatory school. To this end, a descriptive survey method was employed to
collect and analyze data. The sources of the data for the study were 316 students, 14 teacher, and
24 parents. Informal discussions with various persons were also essential. The sampling
techniques applied in the study were simple random, purposive sampling and availability
sampling (techniques). The data collecting instruments were questionnaire, interview, and
observation. The data collected were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. To analyze
the quantitative data collected using questionnaire mean, grand mean, counts, and percentage
were computed. T test was employed to see if there is statistically significant difference between
male and female, Amharic and Afan Oromo speaker and grade 9th and 11th. The data gathered
through interview and observations were analyzed using descriptive statements and/or
explanations.
As the result indicated, students have high proficiency in Amharic and low proficiency in Afan
Oromo. Students have negative attitude towards local languages in general either Amharic or
Afan Oromo. And also they are instrumentally motivated. The result of this study revealed that
students had positive attitude towards English. Respondents have negative attitude towards their
second language. As to their motivational orientation, they are both instrumentally and
integratively motivated in learning their second language. The finding of this study also showed
that there is some statistically significant difference between sexes. However, there is no
statistically significant difference between languages and grade level.
Based on the findings, in many ways the successfulness of the language policies in education is
determined more by the attitudes of the people towards the language. Thus, a clear knowledge of
societal attitude towards the language of education needs to be investigated before a language is
used for education. Moreover, further in-depth investigation of the problem at regional level is
recommended.
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investigate grade nine and eleven students