Widiyawati, Suci, 2019. The Correlation Study between Students’ Motivation and English Academic Achievement of the Eighth Grade Students at SMPN 1 Binuang in the Academic Year 2018/2019. Sarjana’s Thesis. English Departement, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Lambung Mangkurat University. Banjarmasin. Advisor: (1)  Prof. Dr. H. Abdul Muth’im, M.Pd; (2) Nasrullah, M.Pd.B.I.

Key words: Correlation study, students’ motivation, and English’s academic achievement.

Motivation has an important role in affecting students’ English academic achievement. The motivation can encourage students to change their attitude and get a better English academic achievement, so they can reach the goal in studying English. The higher the value of coefficient correlation between students' motivation and English academic achievement is, the higher the correlation between students' motivation and English academic achievement. This research is aimed to find out whether or not there is a correlation between students’ motivation and English academic achievement of Eighth grade students at SMPN 1 Binuang in the Academic Year 2018/2019.

This research used quantitative approach with correlational method. The population of this research was the Eighth Grade students at SMPN 1 Binuang in the Academic Year 2018/2019. The researcher used cluster random sampling technique to chose the sample. There were 53 students chosen as the sample. The researcher used questionnaire and documentation as the instrumentation in this research.

After analyzed both variables by Pearson Product Moment formula through SPSS for windows program, it was found that the value of coefficient correlation (r_xy) was 0.744. It indicated the interpretation of correlation in this research had high correlation level (0.600 – 0.799). Based on the analysis of the data, the researcher concluded that there was a correlation between students’ motivation and English academic achievement of the Eighth Grade students at SMPN 1 Binuang in the Academic Year 2018/2019.

The researcher suggests for the students to increase their motivation, practice English more and make it as a habit, and setting up the right goal in studying English. For the teachers, they should establish good relationship with the student and creates a harmonious and co-operative classroom atmosphere to lighten students’ anxiety. For the other researchers, they can use different factors or use more specific indicators based on the types of motivation.