The purpose of the research was, firstly, to investigate
the standard of competence and the degree of some learner
variables affecting competence, i.e. exposure, attitudes
and motivation, amongst Malay learners of ESL. Secondly,
the purpose was to investigate the strength of the
relationships between the variables under study.
The sample consisted of 441 Form Four pupils from
selected schools in Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia, who
had learnt English for the past nine years. The
instruments used for data collection were an achievement
test, an exposure scale, an attitude scale and a
motivation scale.
The analysis of data was carried out by using the
crosstabulation and correlation procedures. The
statistical test of significance used was the chi-square.
The analysis of quantitative data revealed that:
(1) The standard of English competence among the
pupils was low.
(2) Pupils in urban schools performed better in
English than pupils in rural schools.
(3) Generally, the pupils received a low amount of
exposure to written English, radio and
television English, and unscripted spoken
English. 4) Their attitudes towards English and its speakers
were generally favourable.
(5) Their motivational orientations, desire to learn
and motivational intensity were strong. Their
integrative motivation seemed slightly stronger
than their instrumental motivation.
The correlation analysis revealed that:
(1) The relationships between competence and
exposure to written English, radio and
television English, and unscripted spoken
English were positive and significant.
(2) The relationship between competence and attitude
towards English was positive and significant.
But, the relationship between competence and
attitude towards its speakers was insignificant.
(3) The relationships between competence and
integrative motivation, desire to learn and
motivational intensity were positive and
significant. However, the relationship between
competence and instrumental motivation was
insignificant. Overall, the results did not always display high
correlations, and therefore in some cases, diminished the
importance of the independent variables as predictors of
competence.