Abstract: Based on selfdetermination theory and with the participation of 370 students from a university of technology, this study explores the characteristics of college students English learning motivation and the relationship between motivation and English achievement. According to the results, (i) English learning motivation of technology undergraduates is at medium level, with identity regulation motivation on the highest level, extrinsic motivation on the medium level, and amotivation on the lowest level; (ii) the motivation of sophomores, especially their intrinsic motivation, is the lowest among the freshmen, sophomores and juniors; (iii) identity regulation can positively predict students English achievement and amotivation can negatively predict students English achievement.

Key words: English learning motivation, English achievement