Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation of Primary School Students for Mathematics and English as a Foreign Language

This study examines the extent to which primary school students are motivated to learn two significant academic subjects, namely mathematics and English as a foreign language (EFL). Additionally, it explores the trends in motivational levels as students advance through different grades. It is crucial to track both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation exhibited by primary school students towards specific subjects, across various subjects and grade levels, because it provides valuable insights into the dynamics of student motivation and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of their overall learning engagement. To investigate types of motivation, a sample of 638 students from Grades 3 and 5 participated in the survey. The results indicate that primary school students are almost equally intrinsically and extrinsically motivated to learn mathematics and EFL. This suggests a balanced approach to students’ overall motivation towards learning. Regarding motivational trends, the results show that in mathematics, both types of student motivation decline with increasing age, while in EFL, intrinsic motivation increases and extrinsic motivation decreases as students advance through higher grade levels. These findings underscore the necessity of implementing innovative strategies to sustain and enhance intrinsic motivation among students in the upper grades of primary school. Additionally, it highlights the importance of strategically utilizing external factors to support and promote sustained academic achievement of students of these grades.