Why German? Motivation of students studying German at English universities

Abstract

What drives students to study German at university level? Although motivational research has been booming in recent years, students' motivation to pursue a modern foreign language beyond school level has not received much attention in the UK. This article sheds light on the various reasons that drive students in the UK to pursue a modern foreign language at university level. The results presented here are part of a longitudinal study on motivational processes of first year students studying German at two major universities. A mixed methods approach was used, employing quantitative and qualitative methods. Pedagogical implications for both schools and universities are discussed.