Students' Attitudes towards Learning English in the North of Iraq

Abstract

This research investigates students' attitudes towards learning English in Nawroz University. The main purpose of this research is to reveal students’ attitudes towards learning English and find out how to make their attitudes positive. A questionnaire was developed and validated as an instrument for data collection. The population of the study includes the students of English at Nawroz University. The sample of the study was drawn based on the random sampling technique. It included all the first and second year students at English department of the college in Nawroz University comprising 214 participants in total. The data obtained was analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. The study revealed the fact that students have negative attitudes towards learning English in terms of emotional, behavioral and cognitive aspects. Thus, the first hypothesis is supported. As there is a statistically significant difference in Nawroz University students’ attitudes towards learning English language by gender, the second hypothesis is supported. The third hypothesis is supported by the fact that there is a statistically significant difference in Nawroz University students’ attitudes towards learning English language according to the duration of the study. According to the correlation test, the researcher came to the conclusion that there is correlation between three attitude factors: cognitive, behavioral and emotional