How EFL Learners in Jordan Perceive University Education

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of university education among junior
students of English at three public universities in Jordan. The data was collected by
asking the sample students (N=105) to directly answer the question: "why do you think
people want to attend university?" The students provided answers in the form of free
short essays (one page of three paragraphs) during writing courses taught during the
academic year 2012-2013. The essays were skimmed and scanned manually and
analyzed thematically using a qualitative content-analysis functional approach. A
corpus of (525) statements realizing functions of higher education in the essays were
identified and categorized in terms of themes using key words analysis. The results
showed that these students viewed university education in terms of both intrinsic as well
as instrumental motivation. However, the majority of motivating factors were seen in
intrinsic motivation. The major reasons identified for attending university were
personal development followed by job factors and socio-cultural interaction.