Abstract
This research illuminates 1) factors that determine English learning motivation, 2) differences in English learning motivation among students with experience living and traveling abroad, gender and grade, and 3) factors that influence the English learning motivation of fifth and sixth grade students in Japan. A study of 816 fifth and sixth grade students showed that English learning motivation is composed of four factors: usefulness, intrinsic motivation, exchange desire and avoiding uneasiness. Comparison of experience living and traveling abroad showed that students with such experience were at a significantly higher level than students without such experience in avoiding uneasiness. Comparison of gender showed that girls were higher than boys at a significant level in usefulness, intrinsic motivation and avoiding uneasiness. Comparison of grade showed that fifth grade students were significantly higher than sixth grade students in intrinsic motivation and avoiding uneasiness. Furthermore, covariance structure analyses demonstrated that School factor influenced each of the four factors.
