An investigation on Foreign Language Form 3 students’ perceptions on the factors that affect their motivation to learn French at Saint Thomas High School in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The study investigated six students' perceptions of the factors affecting their motivation to learn French at the Form 3 level at a secondary school in Trinidad and Tobago. Data were obtained through interviews. The findings revealed that the students' attitude, perceived competence, the perceived difficulty of French, and their perception of in-class learning activities affected their intrinsic motivation. Their extrinsic motivation for French language learning was affected by factors of: 1) grades, 2) instructional style of the teacher, 3) the relevance of French to their career path, 4) the importance of French in local society, and 5) negative influence of family members.