Attitudes and Motivation of University Students Towards English Language Learning as a University Required Course Post- Arabicization: A Case Study of Some Universities in Khartoum State

Abstract

The study investigated the attitudes and motivation of university students towards English language learning post-Arabicization in Khartoum State. The research covered four universities.

The study examined the attitudes of the university students towards English language learning, their motivation to study English. The research also aimed to find out whether Arabicization played a role in the decline of English language or not.

The researcher hypothesized that: the university students have negative attitudes towards English language learning post- Arabicization, the university students have low motivation to study English after Arabicization, and Arabicization plays a vital role in the decline of students' standards in English.

To examine these hypotheses the researcher adopted a descriptive and analytic methodology. Data were collected from resources and a students' questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed and critically discussed.

The research reached the conclusion that the university students after Arabicization have negative attitudes and low motivation and they are not adequately motivated to study English language. Moreover, the study found out that the Arabicization Policy has a direct impact in the decline of the students' standards in English.

The researcher concluded that the psychological variables (attitudes and motivation) stand as important factors that affected English language learning. The study recommended that the teachers should promote the university students by increasing their motivation to continue learning English and that English should regain its proper place as a medium of instruction in tertiary education in Sudan.