Motivational Factors and Learning Styles in Acquisition of Global Language and Business Skills in Multicultural Education

Abstract

Motivational factors and learning styles are significant sources of producing learning outcomes and addressing equity pedagogy among students in a multicultural international business class where multilingualism simply no longer work and learning the global language is a must. This study examined the motivational factors and learning styles significant to global language and business skills acquisition of one hundred business major students. Extrinsic motivation factors (traveling abroad and be able to communicate with business colleagues in the international market) are the most influential factors toward language acquisition and is reflective of students’ strong perception on communication skills as the most important dimension in business skills acquisition valuable in an international business field. Learning styles of visual and auditory learners described the business students who gain knowledge production better through sight, spatial understanding and sound. Finally, a discourse of recommendations for educators is provided to fully utilize the motivation factors and learning styles of business major students towards continuous improvement and increased commitment to quality instruction in multicultural education.