scholarly journals Motivation to Study a Second Foreign Language: A Case of Chinese University Learners of German

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Meihua Liu
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Career Interest ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Chinese University

Not much research has been done on motivation to study a second, third or even fourth foreign language though learners of such languages have been increasing. To contribute to this, the present study examined German learning motivation of Chinese university students at different proficiency levels. A total of 297 German learners at three different proficiency levels at a university in Beijing filled in the questionnaires, of whom 191 answered the open-ended question and 50 were informally interviewed. Analyses of the data revealed the following major findings: (1) most respondents at each proficiency level had limited access to and little chance to use German, liked the language, studied it (very) hard and did not think the language was difficult, (2) students at different proficiency levels studied German for similar reasons such as major study/research, further education, future career, interest in foreign language learning and German, and (3)students at higher proficiency levels perceived German to be more difficult and worked harder on it. Students at higher proficiency levels were both integratively and instrumentally more motivated to study German and had greater motivation intensity as well. It is clear that students at different proficiency levels were motivated to study German and that students at the advanced level tended to be more integratively motivated than those at the beginning level. Based on these findings, some suggestions are discussed.

scholarly journals Forging new pathways for research on language learning motivation

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Françoise Raby
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Cognitive Ergonomics ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
Methodological Difficulties

Abstract Research on motivation in the field of applied linguistics seeks to better understand how and why learners become involved in learning activities and maintain their efforts in this regard. Dörnyei provided a seminal model drawing essentially from cognitive and social psychology (Dörnyei, 2001). In the wake of his reflection, and after investigating motivation in a range of academic contexts, we are now able to present our own model, which is dynamic, weighted, and polytomic (Raby, 2007). After presenting cognitive ergonomics as a new pathway for research in second language acquisition, we shall present the results of our investigations in foreign language learning motivation in technologically enhanced contexts, outlining major methodological difficulties pertaining to this sort of this grounded research.

An investigation into the relationship of foreign language learning motivation and sign language use among Deaf and hard of hearing Hungarians

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edit H. Kontra ◽  
Kata Csizér
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The aim of this study is to point out the relationship between foreign language learning motivation and sign language use among hearing impaired Hungarians. In the article we concentrate on two main issues: first, to what extent hearing impaired people are motivated to learn foreign languages in a European context; second, to what extent sign language use in the classroom as well as outside school shapes their level of motivation. The participants in our research were 331 Deaf and hard of hearing people from all over Hungary. The instrument of data collection was a standardized questionnaire. Our results support the notion that sign language use helps foreign language learning. Based on the findings, we can conclude that there is indeed no justification for further neglecting the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing people as foreign language learners and that their claim for equal opportunities in language learning is substantiated.

EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY AND STUDENTS’ LEARNING MOTIVATION TO FILIPINO FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 645-658
Author(s):  
Sherrilyn B. Quintos
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Filipino Students ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
The Relationship

This quantitative research study investigated the relationship between anxiety acquired through foreign language learning and learning motivation of Filipino students in Bataan Peninsula State University. Participants were identified through stratified random sampling. It adapted two sets of questionnaires: Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale by Horwitz, et al. (1986) and Foreign Language Learning Motivation Questionnaire developed by Gonzales (2006). Results showed that anxiety and motivation have a significant relationship with each other. Higher level of learning motivations students set for themselves manifest higher chances for them to develop consciousness and anxiety over their academic performance. They see L2 learning essential in employment opportunities, effective communication, and exploring foreign culture. However, their sense of interest to the course is primarily driven by extrinsic motivations which are only influenced by external factors such as the need to take the subject to pass a requirement. In return, they grow anxious and fearful of the possible consequences of being unable to achieve learning expectations and self-goals. While it is true that age does not significantly affect the relationship of the two variables under examination, it was found that females are more likely to exemplify a receptive behavior in learning than males. It is of high suggestion to integrate different strategies in teaching foreign language to minimize anxiety tendencies and maximize students’ engagement in learning. Also, it is recommended to devise or adapt a more context-specific questionnaire that will deeply explore on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of students and the anxiety concomitant to it. Finally, further studies are highly encouraged to be conducted to further navigate the interplay of other contributing variables in their foreign language learning experiences.

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION IN DEVELOPING TRANSLATION COMPETENCE

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-59
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Krainiak ◽  
Oleksandra Duda ◽  
Svitlana Rybachok ◽  
Tetiana Piatnychka ◽  
Nataliia Rybina
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Translation ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Self Regulated Learning ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
Regulated Learning

Students’ language learning motivation is an important factor to ensure the quality of higher education in Ukraine in the context of its integration into the European Higher Education Area. The present study reveals the findings that showcase both pedagogical and psychological factors influencing students’ foreign language learning motivation in translation competence. The authors used a set of basic theoretical research methods to analyze, synthetize and classify scientific and methodological sources on the research problem; empirical methods of questionnaire surveys with direct and indirect questioning to represent learning motivational characteristics, statistical analysis to summarize the research results. Both psychological and pedagogical diagnostics of the socially heterogeneous respondents’ motivation made it possible to determine the external socio-cultural and internal self-concept motives in their self-improvement and self-regulated learning. It is established that the respondents’ external motives have arisen due to such stimulating factors as "competitive advantage in the labor market" and "career growth potential". Internal motives are mainly related to the satisfaction of a student’s personal needs in the foreign language learning (interest, awareness of the insufficient level of communicative competence, internal belief in the need for self-improvement of foreign language translation skills, etc.). Analysis of the diagnostics results provided an opportunity to distinguish the obstacles to the self-development of respondents in translation education. Experimental testing of the learning motivation within the internal and external mediation allowed to reveal the dominance of internal motives over external ones in all categories of respondents. Insufficient or low level of independent self-regulated learning has been identified as the main obstacle to self-improvement of foreign language translation competence. The paper contributes to the current understanding of translation education, especially in the context of Ukraine, by investigating factors influencing students’ learning motives and their pedagogical and theoretical implications.

How and how much?

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-121
Author(s):  
Chiara Romagnoli ◽  
Sergio Conti
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Vocabulary Learning Strategies ◽  
Chinese Learners ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Vocabulary plays a crucial role in foreign language learning, and vocabulary mastery proves to be challenging at different competence levels. Compared to other areas of research into Chinese as a foreign language, vocabulary acquisition and vocabulary teaching have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between vocabulary learning strategies and vocabulary size and to verify whether vocabulary size is positively correlated to proficiency level. A total of 95 Italian undergraduate Chinese learners, from elementary to intermediate levels, participated in this study. The participants were first given a vocabulary learning questionnaire and then a vocabulary size test. Statistical and qualitative analyses of the data revealed two trends: a poor variety of vocabulary learning strategies and a positive correlation between vocabulary size and proficiency level.

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