Abstract:This paper aims to study the motivations of Tibetan college students in order to analyze the important factor—motivation, which exerts impacts on their English learning, and then explore the relationship between motivation and English learning among Tibetan students. At last, the author comes up with some corresponding teaching suggestions on the basis of the findings, providing theoretical support and practical reference for English learning of Tibetan students and college English teaching. This study conducts a questionnaire among 60 Tibetan students at the Jiangnan University and carries out quantitative analysis with the collected data, with the aim of understanding Tibetan college students' motivations of English learning. Survey results show that if the motivation of intrinsic interest and individual development is stronger, the ability to make a study plan and supervise the learning process is stronger, and more can be achieved in Tibetan students’ learning. Therefore, we should develop and adopt different teaching methods according to different motivations, to achieve better teaching effect in the same period of time, and to make a contribution to the teaching English among Tibetan students. Of course, this study has some limitations, such as the sample is not representative of the entire Tibetan college students.

Keywords: Tibetan college students; third language acquisition; motivation; English teaching

Contents

摘要

Abstract

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

Chapter 2 Literature Review-3

2.1The Definition of Motivation and Its Classification-3

2.1.1Definition of motivation-3

2.1.2Classification of Motivation-4

2.3 Motivation in learning English as a third language-6

Chapter3 A case study-9

3.1Research Question-9

3.2Data Collection-9

Chapter 4 Implications-12

4.1 Setting learning objectives-12

4.2 Raising awareness of English learning-12

4.3 Developing interest in English learning-13

4.4 Creating English learning environment-14

Chapter 5 Conclusion-15

Reference-16

Acknowledgments-18