Motivation for pursuing a bachelor of arts in English: A case study of students at Thu Dau Mot University

Motivation for pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English plays a crucial role in motivating students to persevere and make efforts to achieve their learning goals. Therefore, investigating the reasons behind students’ decision to pursue a B.A. in English is very necessary to serve as a reference for practical adjustments to curriculum as well as training and teaching practices. Findings from a survey of 121 English-majored students at Thu Dau Mot University, conducted by using a questionnaire, reveal that most students are driven by a combination of instrumental and integrative motivations when deciding to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English, with instrumental motivation serving as the strongest driving force. Additionally, most students are more motivated by intrinsic factors than extrinsic ones. Furthermore, the findings indicate significant differences in the motivations of students from various backgrounds, with a majority of female students pursuing English for job opportunities and urban students prioritizing proficiency certificates and travel. A generational shift in motivations is also evident among Vietnamese students, who are increasingly less influenced by external factors compared to older generations. These insights can guide educators in designing engaging curricula aligned with students' motivations and inform future research on learning motivation's impact on academic achievement, ultimately fostering a more responsive educational framework.