Abstract:Motivation, which is one of the most important effective factors in English learning, has great influences on both the learning process and achievement. In recent years, researchers at home and abroad have attached great importance to the studies of English learning motivation. Although various studies on English learning motivation have been evoked both in the foreign countries and in China, there are little empirical researches on the junior non-English major college students in independent colleges. Therefore, this study attempts to explore which type of motivation is the most effective to these students’ English learning at present so as to promote their English learning in independent college.

　　　In this study, a survey is conducted to explore the non-English majors’ motivation in English learning at Zengcheng College of South China Normal University. The questionnaire was designed according to Gardner’s Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) but some modifications have been done so as to suit the particular situation under this research. 

　　　Through the questionnaire investigation, the author found out that most of the non-English majors in independent college held a strong intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation ranked the second place among these four types of motivations. It is hoped that this study will shed some insights on promoting English learning by recognizing what their motivation is in learning English in independent college. 

Key words: English learning motivation; independent college; non-English major; learning motivation stimulating

摘要:学习动机作为外语学习中的一个重要的学习情感因素之一，对英语学习的过程和结果有着至关重要的影响。近年来，英语学习动机受到了国内外学者的重视，而这在国内外也引发了一系列关于英语学习动机方面的研究。然而，对独立学院非英语专业低年级大学生学习动机的研究还是比较少。因此，本研究试图探讨目前哪种动机对这类学生的作用更大以促进他们的英语学习。

　　　在本次研究中，为深入了解非英语专业低年级大学生的英语学习动机，作者在华南师范大学增城学院做了一次问卷调查。问卷根据Gardner的态度动机测试表（AMTB）制定，并结合实际情况，进行了修改。

　　　通过问卷调查研究，作者发现民办高校非英语专业学生，有强烈的内在动机，且外在动机强度次之。作者希望本研究能为独立学院非英语专业大学生英语学习方面提供一些见解。

关键词：英语学习动机；独立学院；非英语专业；学习动机激发