Abstract

This article is based on a research that was carried out as part of a more extensive PhD research regarding variables that have an impact on the performance of young EFL learners in listening and speaking interaction. The current article focuses on a very important factor in foreign language learning; attitudes and motivation. Data regarding the attitudes and motivation of the children was gathered through a questionnaire and then, it was statistically analyzed in relation to the results of the examinees on an end of primary school listening and speaking test in order to examine whether there is a relationship between the two factors. The first part of the article presents a review of existing literature regarding attitudes and motivation. Research methodology and procedure are analyzed later on and the last sections offer a review of result and a discussion based on the conclusion, which indicate that motivation is indeed a crucial factor in foreign language learning which ought to be taken into consideration whenever material are prepared or a language programme is designed.