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 anxiety. 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 anxiety. Comparison of gender showed that girls were higher than boys at a significant level in usefulness, intrinsic motivation and avoiding anxiety. Comparison of grade showed that fifth grade students were significantly higher than sixth grade students in intrinsic motivation and avoiding anxiety. Furthermore, covariance structure analyses demonstrated that the school factor influenced each of the four factors.
