Motivation and Students Academic Performance in English Language in Secondary Schools

Motivation and Students Academic Performance in English Language in Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

1.1   Background to the Study

The idea of motivating learners Is an aspect of effective learning. In fact, some psychologists believe that motivation is a necessary ingredient for learning. Buhler and snowman (1986), opined that learning is pertinent to note that individual student characteristic or variable such as motivational  orientation, self esteem and learning  approaches are important factors influencing academic performance of student in English language,

Besides, Okoye (2005) opines that motivation is the key to the understanding of human behavior according to him, motivation explains why an individual dodges work while another person works normally and satisfactorily enough to reach the high yet others resort to illegal and unconventional means such as stealing, cheating, bribery to achieve social, academic, economic and political recognition,

Study have revealed that students perform is when positive motivated by the school, teacher and the home. This is why this study was carried out to determine the influence of motivation and students academic performance in English language in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The issue of poor academic performance of student in English language cannot be over emphasized. This is been linked to poor teacher performance in terms of accomplishing the teaching task, negative attitude to world and poor habite which have been attributed to poor motivation. Amos (2003) it is also observed that condition that would make for effective teaching such as resources available to teachers general condition of infrastructure as well as instructional material to encourage performance are generally lacking in the Nigerian school system.

  Okoje (2005) this compulsion has developed in them a lot of behavioral problem like lack of interested and poor attitude toward the subject and a general poor performance among students some resort to examination malpractices which is very rampant today. Many students tall and performance poorly in academic work not because they do not possess the ability but because they are not motivated well in the classroom by the teacher and at home by their parents. This has draw the researcher interest to examine motivation as it affect students performance in English language in secondary schools.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose or objective of the study was to examine motivation and student academic performance in English language They study seek to:-

1. Examine whether teachers praise influence student academic performance in English language.
2. Asses how parental motivation influence student academic performance in English.
   • Significance of the Study
3. This study will reveal the new influence of motivation on academic performance of students in English language.
4. It will provide useful information to English Language teachers on the new teaching techniques to be used to ensure the motivation of students in school and their academic performance in the subject.

• It will provide the research materials for scholarship and to embark on a research of this nature.

  1.4 Research Questions 

For the purpose of this work, the following research questions were formulated:

• Does teacher praise influence students academic performance in English Language?

• Does teacher’s methodology influence student’s academic performance in English Language?

Motivation and Students Academic Performance in English Language in Secondary Schools

1.5   Research Hypotheses

(i)     There is no significant different in the academic performance of students who are praised by the teacher and those who are not in English Language.

(ii)    There is no significant different in the academic performance of students who teacher motivated with the used of teaching techniques and those who are not in English Language.

1.6   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of motivation on student’s academic performance in English Language in Oruk Anam L.G.A.

In the process of the findings, the research experienced many factors which limited this work. These are among other financial constraint; the time given for the completion of this study was inadequate to make a research like this have a wider scope.

1.7   Definition of Terms

For the sake of this study, the following terms were defined.

(i)    ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: This refers to knowledge attained or skill developed in the school subject. Also, it refers to the output of the learner with regard to test, assignment and examination on English Language.

(ii)   MOTIVATION: This is a force which stimulates learners to act toward a given goal.

(iii)  TEACHING TECHNIQUES: In this study, it refers to the principles and methods of instruction.

(iv)  EXTRISIC MOTIVATION: This is a type of motivation in which the learner is externally influenced by the teacher.

(v)   INTRINSIC MOTIVATION: This is a type of motivation whereby the learner feels the need to engage in a particular activity without the influence of external agency.

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1   Summary        

The purpose of this study was to examine motivation and student academic performance in English Language in Oruk Anam Local Government Area. Three research question and hypothesis were formulated and focused on motivation with respect to student academic performance in English secondary schools. It was believed that this study could be useful to teacher, guidance, policy makers, parents, educational administrators and even students. A detailed literature review was obtained from published and unpublished materials, journals and newspapers etc. Its review was aimed at developing appreciation on previous study done in this area or related areas.

The population of the study comprising of all the secondary schools student (4506) from the target population, 300 students offering English language where selected from three public schools in the study area through random sampling technique. Student achievement test was the major instrument for the study. Although, observation and personal interview was also used. Finally, the result indicated that parent reward, teacher praise among other and independent variable of the study. Summary, recommendation and conclusion where documented.

5.2   Conclusion

It could be concluded that motivation plays an important role toward  student academic performance at all level of education, because on it rest ability and willingness of the learners to sustain the interest =a1nd performance on a given program of study. Based on the finding of this study, it was concluded that:-

• Teacher praise of student behavior leads to improved academic performance.
• Parental motivation was necessary in enhancing student academic performance.

5.3.  Recommendations

Based on the study the following recommendations were made:

1. Teacher should adopt various motivational strategies so that each child could motivate to perform creditably in the subject.
2. Teacher in school should effectively utilize all available resources to motivate and reward student toward better academic performance.

• The efforts done by student at school should be recognized and appreciated by the teacher.

1. Parents should learn to praise their children in order to motivate them academically.
2. Parents should involve in the educational activities of their children to motivate them academically.