Motivation in action: A process model of L2 motivation

As part of a long-term project aimed at designing classroom interventions to motivate language learners, we have searched for a motivation model that could serve as a theoretical basis for the methodological applications. We have found that none of the existing models we considered were entirely adequate for our purpose for three reasons: (1) they did not provide a sufficiently comprehensive and detailed summary of all the relevant motivational influences on classroom behaviour; (2) they tended to focus on how and why people choose certain courses of action, while ignoring or playing down the importance of motivational sources of executing goal-directed behaviour; and (3) they did not do justice to the fact that motivation is not static but dynamically evolving and changing in time, making it necessary for motivation constructs to contain a featured temporal axis. Consequently, partly inspired by Heckhausen and Kuhl's 'Action Control Theory', we have developed a new 'Process Model of L2 Motivation', which is intended both to account for the dynamics of motivational change in time and to synthesise many of the most important motivational conceptualisations to date. In this paper we describe the main components of this model, also listing a number of its limitations which need to be resolved in future research.

An investigation into students' motivation to learn English in higher education in Vietnam

This mixed-methods research explored students' motivation to learn English in an attempt to enhance the quality of teaching and learning English in Vietnamese higher education. An intricate picture of students' motivation was revealed: motivation to learn English to gain pragmatic benefits, to satisfy internal aspirations, and in response to external pressures. Students expressed that feeling connected with significant people (lecturers, peers and parents) enhanced their motivation to learn English. This research has significance at both practical and theoretical levels as it provides important insights into the teaching and learning English in Vietnamese higher education and the literature of second language learning motivation.

A flutuação da motivação do aluno no processo de aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras

Introdução: A motivação tem sido cada vez mais objeto de estudo no campo da Linguística Aplicada e seu papel no processo de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras tem adquirido significativa importância na literatura especializada. Dentre as diversas construções teóricas envolvendo interpretações do processo motivacional e as variáveis que nele atuam, pode-se apontar o Modelo Processual de Motivação de Dörnyei, que apresenta a sequência acional do aprendente e os diferentes aspectos motivacionais presentes em cada uma das fases por que passa: a pré-acional, a acional e a pós-acional. Objetivos: Identificar, com base no Modelo Processual de Motivação de Dörnyei, as influências motivacionais atuantes na fase acional do processo de aprendizagem dos sujeitos de pesquisa, verificar a natureza e as circunstâncias determinantes das flutuações observadas nos alunos e levantar quais estratégias motivacionais para manter ou recuperar o entusiasmo para permanecer no curso. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma pesquisa longitudinal predominantemente qualitativa, cujos dados foram coletados por meio de análise de uma narrativa, três questionários e uma entrevista de oito alunos do curso de Licenciatura em Língua Inglesa da Universidade Federal do Pará, de março de 2010 a junho de 2011. Resultados: Foram observados fatores motivadores e desmotivadores que influenciam o comportamento dos alunos durante a fase acional do processo de aprendizagem, bem como diferentes flutuações em sua resultante motivacional, de acordo com suas características pessoais e o conhecimento e adoção de estratégias de gerenciamento da motivação e automotivação. Conclusão: O Modelo de Motivação de Dörnyei (2011) provou ser bastante útil para amparar a análise dos dados colhidos nesta pesquisa. A motivação é vista como um fenômeno dinâmico, que pode oscilar positiva ou negativamente, dependendo das crenças e percepções de cada aluno e da capacidade de gerenciá-la. Essa característica dinâmica e variável com o tempo pode nortear os agentes da aprendizagem na escolha de estratégias que a fomentem e que impeçam a baixa da maré motivacional do aluno no desenrolar do processo da aprendizagem, levando-os a considerar as influências motivacionais variáveis não só em relação a cada aprendente, mas também em relação à fase do processo de aprendizagem em que cada indivíduo se encontra.

La eficacidad de los cursos de ELE : la percepción de los usuarios de L1/L2

Cette recherche vise à étudier l'efficacité des cours d'espagnol comme langue étrangère, à partir de la perception des étudiants d’espagnol comme langue d’origine. Pour atteindre les résultats et les conclusions obtenus, cette étude qualitative compte sur la participation des répondants hispaniques qui ont appris l'espagnol à la maison, à l'école primaire, au secondaire, au cégep et/ou au collège. Les participants ont répondu à un questionnaire qui leur a permis d'exprimer leur perception à l'égard des cours d’espagnol comme langue étrangère qu'ils ont pris au cours de leur étude primaire, secondaire ou supérieure. Les résultats de cette recherche indiquent que les élèves hispaniques ne sont pas intégrés dans les classes ELE, ce qui motive les participants à poursuivre l’étude de la langue espagnole. Comme expliqué par Gardner (1985) dans sa théorie du modèle socio-éducationnel, l’acquisition des langages intervient dans un contexte culturel spécifique et elle est influencée par la croyance populaire et les différences individuelles. Ces dernières sont intégrées dans le concept du motif d'intégration, qui est composé du sens de l'intégration, de l'attitude envers la situation d'apprentissage et de la motivation. Les réponses données par les participants dans cette étude peuvent être utiles à la conception et au développement de cours et de méthodes d’apprentissage de l’espagnol pour les hispanophones d’origine. En tenant compte de leurs points de vue, les étudiantes auraient un sens plus élevé de l’intégration, ce qui influence directement leur motivation et par le fait même leur processus d’apprentissage.

Análisis de la satisfacción del alumnado de L2 con respecto a la adquisición de terminología especializada por medio de videojuegos: estudio de caso

Los videojuegos permiten enseñar contenidos y destrezas de forma eficiente, posibilitando un aprendizaje duradero (Rama et al., 2012), y aumentan la motivación y la implicación del alumnado (Martens et al., 2004). En esta línea, el presente estudio pretende medir tanto el grado de satisfacción de dos grupos de estudiantes de L2 de la Universidad de Alicante con respecto a la adquisición de terminología especializada por medio de un videojuego como la percepción sobre el propio grado de aprendizaje. Tras un periodo de práctica, se ha medido y analizado tanto el grado de aprendizaje alcanzado como la satisfacción con la herramienta empleada y, muy especialmente, las diferencias en el grado de aprendizaje percibido por cada uno de estos grupos.

Motivation and Vocabulary Breadth in CLIL and EFL Contexts. Different age, Same Time of Exposure

Numerous studies have found a positive connection between learners’ motivation towards foreign language and foreign language achievement. The present study examines the role of motivation in receptive vocabulary breadth (size) of two groups of Spanish learners of different ages, but all with 734 hours of instruction in English as a Foreign Language (EFL): a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) group in primary education and a non-CLIL (or EFL) group in secondary education. Most students in both groups were found to be highly motivated. The primary CLIL group slightly overcame the secondary non-CLIL group with respect to the mean general motivation but this is a non-significant difference. The secondary group surpass significantly the primary group in receptive vocabulary size. No relationship between the receptive vocabulary knowledge and general motivation is found in the primary CLIL group. On the other hand, a positive significant connection, although a very small one, is identified for the secondary non-CLIL group. We will discuss on the type of test, the age of students and the type of instruction as variables that could be influencing the results.

Project work in a Basque L2 classroom: students’ perceptions

[EN] Project Work has been acknowledged as an efficient medium for language learning for more than two decades (Stoller, 2006) according to the numerous successful applications of project-based programmes that have been reported. In spite of the lack of sufficient controlled studies to assess the benefits of project work, and the existence of some studies giving evidence of students discontent with project work, the reports given by second language (SL) and foreign language students (FL) who have experienced project based instruction give support to the success attributed to project-based learning, as they recognised having improved language skills, learnt content, developed real life skills, as well as gained in self-confidence and motivation (Sierra, 2008 and 2011; Stoller, 2006). The aim of the present study is to explore some key issues involved in implementing a project-based programme focusing on the students’ perceptions of learning gains, their views on the collaborative assessment scheme used in the programme, and the students’ overall evaluations of the implementation of project work in a post-compulsory secondary education context in Navarre, Spain, with students learning Basque as a second language. A group of 12 students enrolled in a project work based programme participated in the study. Results showed that the students’ perceptions were very positive concerning doing projects, learning gains and group work, although more grammar instruction and teacher-fronted activities were requested by the students. However, the collaborative assessment process and the use of a Notebook/Diary as a reflection tool bore mixed evaluations.

Fan motivation and loyalty : extending the Sport Interest Inventory (SII) to the Australian Football League

This study used the Sport Interest Inventory (SII) to examine the motivation of fans attending a game in the Australian Football League. This is the first study to use the SII for professional men’s team sport outside the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis showed the model provided a good fit for the data collected in Australia, and regression analysis revealed that team interest, vicarious achievement, excitement and player interest were the significant factors in predicting and explaining the level of attitudinal loyalty of fans toward their favourite team.

Investigating motivation, attitudinal loyalty and attendance behaviour with fans of Australian football

The present study examined how individual difference factors contribute to attitudes and behaviour of spectators attending an Australian Football League game. The results revealed that four factors: Team Interest, Vicarious Achievement, Excitement and Player Interest were successful in predicting level of loyalty, while five factors: Vicarious Achievement, Player Interest, Entertainment Value, Drama and Socialization predicted game day attendance. This study illustrates the applicability of the Sport Interest Inventory developed in North America to understand motivational factors of Australian sports fans.

A longitudinal study of motivation and competence in children with Down syndrome : early childhood to early adolescence

Background Motivation has been identified as an area of difficulty for children with Down syndrome. Although individual differences in mastery motivation are presumed to have implications for subsequent competence, few longitudinal studies have addressed the stability of motivation and the predictive validity of early measures for later academic achievement, especially in atypical populations. Method The participants were 25 children with Down syndrome. Mastery motivation, operationalised as persistence, was measured in early childhood and adolescence using tasks and parent report. At the older age, preference for challenge, another aspect of mastery motivation, was also measured and the children completed assessments of academic competence. Results There were significant concurrent correlations among measures of persistence at both ages, and early task persistence was associated with later persistence. Persistence in early childhood was related to academic competence in adolescence, even when the effects of cognitive ability at the younger age were controlled. Conclusions For children with Down syndrome, persistence appears to be an individual characteristic that is relatively stable from early childhood to early adolescence. The finding that early mastery motivation is significant for later achievement has important implications for the focus of early interventions.