How a learner’s intelligence and motivation helps to learn a second language through learning style.
Tanjina Afrin Epu : 12303013
Sadia Margoob: 12303001
Sharmin Sultana: 11203007
BRAC University
DedicationWe want to dedicate our research paper to our parents, friends and well-wishers who support us at our well and woe to come up with this paper. We need them in all spare of our life.
Declaration This is to certify that this research paper is original, and all sources are cited following APA method.
(SadiaMargoob)
(Tanjina Afrin Epu)
(Sharmin Sultana)
AcknowledgementFirst of all we would like to express our gratitude towards ourAlmighty to enable us the strength and patience to complete theresearch paper within a restriction of time. We would also liketo thankour friends, supporters who have joyfully answeredourdemands and the survey that help us a great deal and provideto work with relevant information. Some of them have given theirbest afford to boost up our courage and energy level toaccomplish the research paper successfully. We are also obligedthat all of you have granted our inquires seriously, gave timefrom your busy schedule and help us out with appropriatematerials which supported a lot to prove our stand.
1. Abstract…………………………………………………………12. Introduction…………………………………………………….23. Background……………………………………………………..44. Motivation………………………………………………………65. Learning Style…………………………………………………..96. Intelligence……………………………………………………..117. Data collection………………………………………………….128. Data Analysis…………………………………………………..139. Counter Argument……………………………………………..1510. Findings………………………………………………………..1611. Conclusion……………………………………………………...1712. Reference……………………………………………………….18
Appendix
Sample of Questionnaire ………………………………19The Survey inquiries …………………………………..21
1
Abstract
We learn our second language later in academic area comparing toour mother tongue. It is quite normal that after acquiring alittle bit of proficiency in first language we tend to learn theforeign language with the interference of the inter language.Mainly the limitation of the interlanguage helps the learners tofocus on certain features of the foreign language. With thesupport of some tools we try to accomplish our goal. Ourintelligence, motivation, environment, personality and the lastnot the least our learning process are regarded as essentialinstruments of learning second language. We cannot deny theimmense significant of all of them. But this piece of researchpaper deals with three different utensils of language learningwith a perfect survey. In this exploration paper we are going tofocus on the acceptance of intelligence, motivation and learningprocess with the help of concrete survey.
Key words: Intelligence, motivation, learning style, secondlanguage, learner.
2
Introduction
This piece of research paper is written to find out the most
influencing factor in case of second language learning.
Intelligence, motivation and learning style are the key
ingredients of our research topic and all three of them have
individual significant role and effect on learning second
language undoubtedly.
Some learners have high intelligence power and they grab
easily the regulations of second language which is English. Due
to the power of their IQ level they become a very good speaker
and feel willingness to communicate in English in front of the
public.But there are some learners who are not fast in terms of
intelligence power and they often fell difficult to learn it.
Therefore motivation can be an important tool to boost up their
confidence level and make them comfortable to apply the second
language freely in front of the universe.
The third key point is learning style. It differs from
individual to individual. It expresses the way learners have come
to know about the second language. The main objective of the
paper is to sort out the main manipulating factor through the
survey and the answers they we have collected from our
interviewee. There are lots of factors that work as individual
differences such as personality, aptitude, motivation,
intelligence, learning style and attitude. Among all them we are
focusing on only three factors which we have mentioned earlier.
We have tried to collect our queries through our interviewee
and the survey to gather the potential data which is the core
ingredient to complete the study. We have done the survey on
nearly 20 people especially among our friend circle within the
BRAC UNIVERSITY premises. But as we are standing at the end of
the semester many of them are busy with their final
3
preparation. We were not able to do the survey on a large group
of peopledue to some unavoidable circumstances it was not
possible for us to make conversations with the learners of second
language that are in process of learning it in different language
institutions.
4
Background
The name of our interviewee is Shahriar Chowdhury Rony one of
our good friends. His previous background was Bangla (Mohammadpur
preparatory higher secondary school) and (Dhaka College). His
personality is extrovert and he loves to make friend circle. At
present he is studying in BRAC UNIVERSITY in CSE (Computer and
Science and Engineering) and this is his 9th semester.
As we mentioned earlier that it is almost the end of the
semester that is why he did not give us a huge time. But we are
grateful to him that within his busy schedule of time he answered
our questionnaire carefully and participated in the interview. We
have given him a list of 20 questions and he attended all of
them. According to him intelligence is the major factor to come
up with the second language. When we have asked him the
question“Intelligence can measure one’s ability of language learning”----- do you
agree with the statement?” He replies like “Yes, I agree with the statement. Because an
intelligent personnel can learn anything quickly. The ability of learning somehow
depends on intelligence.”He has highlighted that if a learner lacks of
enough intelligence power, which is required to absorb the second
language, through which he/she is preferred to communicate with
the whole world,then how the learner will acquire that. It will
hard and sometimes impossible for him/her. Therefore it tells us
that IQ is the strong predictor of learning something.
5
He prefers his learning style a lot. It was reading and
listening.“Reading and listening at the same time is very useful to acquire any
knowledge. My learning style helped me enough to “get better”.Rony has read
quite a number of novels. He said “English novels are greatsources of
vocabulary”. It was beneficial a lot according to his words. He
loves to read books but he relies on the English movies.
Because it is enjoyable and more practical way of learning a
new language. He also mentioned that informal and example
based learning is more feasible comparing with rule based and
strict classroom setting. But he has also drawn the issue of
the present situation that now-a-days the process had been
altered of learning. It is more depended on multi media.
Learners (Visual Learners) are shown videos and are truly
fruitful for them to understand the context based on the
situation. Easily they understand the language. So he supports
this process a lot as well.
Our interviewee does not ignore the fact of motivation. His
considers that motivation is such a dynamic inspirational
reason of learning a new language which has no connection with
our mother tongue. “When someone is truly inspired then he/she can do it
from the heart and finds interest in that work, which makes it easy for them.”
However motivation helps people to apply English language in
front of the public.
6
Motivation
Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want
them to do because they want to do it.(Dwight D. Eisenhower). The
lexical meaning of this word “Provide someone with a motive for
doing something.” It is like a driving tool for the learners.
Gardner and Lambert stated “Motivation” as the overall goal or
orientation. If a person has low level of IQ then it does not
mean that he/she are not eligible to understand the second
language. If he/she gets motivation from their near and dear
ones, their mentors, friends and most importantly from the
environment then it will work as an active tool for the new
learners. It will automatically encourage their confidence and
boost up their energy level. The learners will never feel low and
build up the belief that one day they can whatever the others can
do.“The most successful learners will be those who have a talent and a high level of
motivation for learning.” (Ellis, 1999. p. 118)
We need to remind that motivation is not preexisting, it is
created among the learners. But the it must be positive
motivation. Because Nina Spada has declared “Positive motivation is
associated with a willingness to keep learning.” Motivation has been
demarcated with the help of two processes.
Learners Communicative Needs
Attitude towards the Second Language
Community
If a learner wants to apply English in terms of social
situations and to come up with the proficiency level or to
develop his/her fluency level then the learner must understand
the communicative value. There are two types of motivation. Such
as:
7
Instrumental Motivation = When language is learned for
practical goals.
Integrative Motivation = Learning from personal growth and
cultural enrichment.
From the book “How language are learned” we have known that these
two types of motivation is useful and they are closely associated
with successful learning language. At present researchers are
focusing on dynamics nature of motivation.
There are close connection between “Motivation” and “Attitude”.
Since there are confliction between this two terms Brown has
clearly stated three types of motivation. They are:
Global motivation - General orientation towards the
goal of learning
Situational Motivation - Varies from situation to situation.
Task Motivation - Specific motivation to perform
selective task.
Zoltan Dornyei (2001) has mention three types of motivational
phrase. They are:
1st phrase – Choice Motivation. It is related with getting
started and setting goals.
2nd phrase – Executive Motivation. It says that carrying the
necessary tasks.
3rd phrase – Motivation Retrospection. It deals with
students evaluation and reaction on their performance.
8
Motivation in Classroom
A teacher can make the class interesting for the learners
especially for those who feel nervous to use English while
necessary. The teacher can give positive motivation by making the
environment and the topic enjoyable which will be relevant to
their age. Moreover, it the duty of the instructor to make the
atmosphere comfortable and make them feel free. A teacher can
teach attention-grabbing topic so that it helps the students to
overcome with all their anxiety, nervousness, shyness and fear.
As the classroom is the formal setting the beginners therefore
always use English in the classroom. Some of them apply it
informal condition as well. But many of them are not. They feel
ashamed of making mistakes. Researchers have shown that mistakes
are the crucial part of learning language. So the teacher
should introduce such type of teaching process that will
encourage them to execute English at formal and informal
setting. Because the motivation of the teacher works like magic.
9
Learning Style:
Learning is style individual’s way of acquiring language.
Every individual employs different learning styles to obtain new
information and skills of the target language.No learning style
is better than the other. Every individual has the capacity to
learn within each of the learning styles, but individuals have a
preferred learning style. Reid emphasized the term learning style
as an individual’s natural and preferred way processing
information of the target language (Brown and Spada 59).
Types of learning styles related to L2 learning:
1. Perceptual learning styles:
Visual, aural/auditory, and kinesthetic
2. Cognitive learning styles:
Field-independent: see things more analytically
Field-dependent: see things more holistically
Visual students like to read and obtain a great deal of visual
stimulation. For these students, lectures, explanations,
conversations, and oral directions without any visual back up can
be confusing for them. However, auditory students do not find any
difficulties without any visual input. They can learn the
language well from lectures, conversation or from oral
directions. Kinesthetic and Tactile students prefer working with
tangible objects, flash cards, collages, etc.
10
Some students may have a combination of two or sometimes three or
even all of the learning styles.
Field-Independent & Field dependent:
Field-independent is related to classroom language learning
that involves analysis, attention to detail, and mastering of
exercise, drills, and other focused activities. Field dependent
is related to the communicative aspects of language learning that
require social outreach, empathy, perception of other people, and
communicative skills. Ellis asserts that field dependence will
prove most facilitative in naturalistic SLA, but field
independence will lead to greater success in classroom learning
(114). Every person, student or teacher, has a learning style;
therefore, there is no particular teaching or learning method
that can suit the needs of all learners. However, students should
be encouraged to “stretch” their learning styles so that they
will be more empowered in a variety of leaning situations.
11
Intelligence
Basically intelligence means the ability of doing something
with the power of your brain. It refers to “Capacity rather than the
contents of the mind” (Ellis 110). It leads people to learn. Through
learners' performance their intelligence is judged.However,
intelligence cannot determine all the skills of language
acquisition. In terms of intelligences Gardner focuses on human
potential lies in the fact that people have a unique blend of
capabilities and skills. In some extent intelligence plays an
important role in language acquisition (2). In addition,
intelligence may be a powerful predictor of success in classroom
SLA, particularly when this consists of formal teaching methods,
but much less so in naturalistic SLA, when L2 knowledge is
developed through learning how to communicate in the target
language (Ellis 111). Intelligence, especially measured by verbal
IQ tests, may be a strong factor when it comes to learning that
involves language analysis and rule learning. On the other hand,
intelligence may play a less important role in language learning
that focuses more on communication and interaction. Intelligence
is a complex process to measure a person’s ability. Traditional
IQ test only focuses on two types of intelligence; verbal or
linguistic intelligence and logical intelligence (Howard 1).
Howard’s theory of multiple intelligence claimed that
intelligence varies person to person. Musical, spatial, logical
intelligence, etc. are different areas of intelligence.
12
Data Collection:
The goal of this research paper is to observe how
intelligence and motivation can be supportive key factors in
terms of learning a new language specially second language
through learning style. And to support this idea, we have
conducted a survey and took an interview. Due to time limitation,
we have interviewed one person and to carry on the survey around
30 people. For the interview, the interviewee has to answer 20
questions. The interview was recorded via cell phone as this
technology is available than others. And for survey, among all
the participants, there were 15 male and 15 female respondents
and everyone was willing to respond as they find this topic out
of the ordinary along with the interviewee. The respondents have
selected based on their language proficiency and all of them had
advanced level proficiency. The survey was online based. We have
attached our survey forms via several social media. Afterward the
responses were collected and located in a pie chart where it
shows among all the respondents, 56% agreed motivation, the major
factor in terms of learning language. And from the rest of 44%
people, 26% think intelligence is the key to learn language
easily. Rest of the 18% people put emphasized on learning style
of an individual.
13
Data Analysis:
Even though there are different key features in terms of language
learning for a certain learners, every learner has some specific
factors that help them to acquire a language easily. The aim of
this paper is to focus on those factors which are consider as
most appropriate to the new learners for learning language and
for that this paper consider motivation, intelligence and
language learning style as major factor for learning language.
After collecting all the responses from the survey, questionnaire
and the interview we can summarize by saying all the participants
believe in separate learning feature that help to learn
effortlessly and most of them believe in motivation while
learning a new language. Among all participants, 56% people
agreed motivation. It can be an easy and an effective force for
an individual while learning language. People gain proficiency in
the second language for different purpose such as educational
purpose, personal purpose and the responses show that no matter
what is the purpose of learning language, an motivated person can
acquire a language to some degree easily than others. The
questionnaire also shows motivation can be an important tool for
improving one’s language skill such as enriching vocabulary,
grammar, sentence structure etc. Some also believe in motivation
which can be helpful for one’s language learning style and can
also guide to change the style where it is necessary. Along with
this, it is clear based on the answers motivation can inspire a
person to communicate with others. It is a good tool to practice
the language. Moreover, motivation is also appreciated by the
interviewee as he also believes that with the help of motivation
he has improved his language skill. According to him, people can
be motivated from different essence just like he has found his by
reading various English novels and watching English movies. From
the rest of the 44% participants, 26% people agreed with the term
intelligence as it plays an
14
important role for learners. According to them, intelligent
people are faster and better learners than others. For that,
intelligence is the ultimate factor that helps a person to
acquire language properly. They also believe IQ is the strong
predictor when it comes to learn language. Moreover, they think
that with the help of intelligence language learners can learn
all the rules, structure and can analysis any language. Besides
the responses from survey, our interviewee also believes in
intelligence for language learning. He also emphasizes on
intelligent learners can achieve success in language learning.
Our interviewee has faith in intelligence which can be a major
aspect for a learner to reach the goal of learning new language.
Quoting the interviewee, “the ability of learning language is
depends on intelligence” shows IQ has foremost outcome when
learning language, rule learning of desired language.
Along with this, rest of 18% people agreed learning style.
Because a learner can achieve his proficiency level
effortlesslyif he has proper learning style as well as proper
learning environment around him. The respondents also focus on
some aspects such as receiving the feedback at the beginning,
example based learning style. The classroom environment can be an
encouragement and motivation for learning language.
15
Counterargument:
As we mentioned before, our interviewee strongly emphasized
on intelligence. According to him without intelligence one cannot
acquire language. However, we do not agree with his opinion.
One’s language ability cannot be determined by traditional IQ
test. Perhaps, in some extent, intelligence might help learner to
get through with some rules, but in case of oral proficiency
intelligence has no role to play. Indeed, many students can learn
language, even if their academic performance is weak (Brown &
Spada 57). The famous linguist Noam Chomsky first put forward
that language is an innate capacity of the human brain, and that
it is an autonomous faculty - meaning that it is a system of its
own, rather than one of the manifestations of intelligence.
Another strong piece of evidence for the view that language is
not a projection of intelligence, is provided by individuals with
Specific Language Impairment on the one hand, and people
suffering from Williams Syndrome on the other hand (Quietman). In
the first case, patients have a normal intelligence, but they
perform far below average on language tasks. He asserts that
“Williams syndrome” is a genetic disorder in which the patient
has a very low IQ, but a normal or near-normal language
performance. This proves that in terms of language learning
intelligence cannot be only predictior.
16
Finding:
Our interviewee mostly focuses on the term intelligence. But as
we can clearly visualize the factor, that being mentally malady a
person can transfer visions through applying language
successfully. It is true that a mentally ill learner will
definitely make blunders at the time of writing something. He/She
is required to commit mistakes. But in case of oral production of
language intelligence does not have an apex role to play. So
there is no clear cut clarification that the intelligence is
merely a predictor to come up with a language.
17
Conclusion:
To conclude we can come up with the notion among all the major
factors of learning language motivation has significant
contribution in learners life. Even though each learner has a
preference of their own, most of them have agreed on the term
motivation.
Howard Gardner. (2010). Multiple intelligences.
http://www.niu.edu/facdev/resources/guide/learning/
howard_gardner_theory_multiple_intelligences.pdf
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/
Is_language_ablility_related_to_intelligence
Ellis, Rod.(1985). Understanding the Second language Acquisition.
Oxford University press.
Lightbrown, Patsy.M and Spada, Nina (2006). How languages are
Learned. Oxford University press.
Questionnaire
“How a learner’s intelligence and motivation helps to learn a
language through his/her learning style”
1. What is your learning style?
2. What is the source of your motivation? How does it work in
you?
3. What kind of learner you are? (visual, aural or others?)
4. Do you have language expertness?
5. How do you think learners’ attitude influence their learning?
6. How far your learning style is successful enough?
7. “Intelligence can measure one’s ability of language
learning”----- do you agree with the statement? If yes/no,
why?
8. “Extrovert people are quick learner than introvert” ----what
do you think?
9. Many young adults find it exceedingly difficult to come up
with a foreign language? Why do you think so?
10. Why IQ test is a strong predictor when it comes to learning?
Do you believe I.Q test has any role in language acquisition?
11. Which method you follow- a. rule based b. example based.
12. What is your preference- a. classroom teaching b.
informal setting. Why?
13. “ Without motivation is it difficult to acquire second
language”? why?
14. Do you realize any sort of improvement after getting
motivation from someone in your learning style? Or Did you
come across any situation that motivates you to improve your
learning style of a language?
15. Why people feel uncomfortable to apply foreign language in
front of the public? . Do you feel shy talking in front of
people? Why or why not?
16. Do you believe only intelligent people can aced multiple
language learning?
17. How do you make sure that your learning style is more
fruitful than others?
18. “Personal way of learning” or “motivation from classroom or
any other situation” … which do you prefer most?
19. At the end what do you support-
A. Your motivation B. Intelligence C. Your better
learning style.
20. How often do you use your second language? Do you like to
use your second language with your own will every time you
speak?
21
Survey Question
1. Which one is important in case of learning 2nd language? Motivation Intelligence
2. Are you satisfied with your learning style?
Fully To some extent
3. Do you support intelligence in case of learning language?
Fully To some extent
4. Does class room environment play a huge role?
A lot To certain points
5. Which method is useful according to you?
Example based Rules based
6. Does there any major change in your learning style that you have gained in your advanced level?
Remarkable changes Not that much
7. Which feedback is more useful?
At the beginning At the end
8. People who have intelligence are considered as better learners, do you agree?
22
Not really To certain level
9. A single teaching method and a textbook will suit the need of the learns?
Never Not sure
10. IQ test may be a strong predictor when it comes to learning that involves language analysis and rule learning?
Yes No