Date of Award

2010

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Dissertation

Divisions

Faculty of Languages and Linguistics

Department

Department of English Language

Institution

University of Malaya

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate the attitudes of the Semai students towards learning English. In general, these students are not proficient in the language (English paper, PMR, 2007). The study aims to determine the factors that affect their attitude towards learning English. How social, behavioural, cultural and educational factors affect the students’ attitudes are also examined. The research site is SMK Sri Tapah, Tapah, Perak as a large number of Semai students are registered in the school. About 40 students and five English language teachers (teaching in schools with a large number of Semai students enrolled) were chosen as respondents for this study. A questionnaire consisting of open and close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Interview sessions with both teacher and student respondents were also conducted. The responses to the questionnaires and interviews conducted reveal that despite being proficiently low in English, the Semai students have a positive attitude towards learning the language. Factors that affect the students’ attitudes include social, behavioural, cultural and educational factors. Some ways by which teachers can help students be more positive about learning English and be proficient in the target language, English are recommended. It is hoped that this study will be useful to both teachers and students of English in Malaysia.

Initial

khm

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A.) – Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, 2010.

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