Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Motivation Essay

According to the definition of Oxford Dictionary, motivation is defined as ‘a reason or reasons for one to act or behave in a particular way’. In other words, motivation is the cause that explains and justifies the way in which one acts or conducts oneself. B. F Skinner’s research on behavior modification and the systematic use of rewards, introduced two types of motivations; extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. The most distinction between these two types of motivations is intrinsic motivation encourage a learner to achieve something because it is inherently interesting, enjoyable and meaningful. While extrinsic motivation encourages a learner to achieve something because of a separable outcome. I believe that intrinsic motivation is always intrinsically better compared to extrinsic motivation. Berry Schwartz, a behaviorist philosopher notes that learners tend to be responsive when the environment tempts them; for rewards or to avoid punishment. This suggest that extrinsically motivated learners are passive compared to intrinsically motivated learners, whom need not to be moved to perform a task. If the use of rewards and punishments is no longer encouraged, learners whom are extrinsically motivated may feel that learning

If English is a language that is easy and practical to learn, learners may at least be driven extrinsically motivated if not intrinsically motivated. However, the environment of learning the language itself is not very conducive, such as less support from family members, irrelevant judgments by peers and less supportive society, especially in rural area. The fact that Malaysian learners and education system focuses on number of As in the examination result slip, and believing in As as assurance of getting good job and promising salary proved the reality that the Malaysian learners are dependent to be extrinsically motivated, in ESL learning