TESL 2012: Shazia Nawaz Awan

Motivation, a Driving Force in Second language Learning

A research paper submitted for MA TESOL with the University of Manchester, UK

Outline!!

OverviewBackgroundResearch on motivationMy two centsFindingsNew emerging goalsFuture Implications

Paths L2 learners take..

Improving English from communication oriented proficiency (Evening and LINC classes) to professional oriented proficiency

Improving specific language or language functions needed for the workplace (ESP) (EWP)

Improving English Language proficiency and score to get into university programs (EAP)

Overview!!

The FocusResearch study on women ESL learners in Canada whose first language is Arabic

Two different scenarios - academic and non-academic.

The qualitative research design using two data resources: 1. observation 2. interviews

Questions needed to be answered!!

The study focuses on finding answers to the following questions:

1. What motivates immigrant women (in Canada), whose first language is Arabic, to learn English as a second language?

2. How and whether their motivational orientations change over a period of time?

Just a Caution!!

The results of this research are not meant to generalize the typical language learning behaviors of the whole group.

However, the study provides a valuable insight into certain aspects of second language learning behaviors and can be helpful in many ways.

What is motivation…general concept

“The reason why somebody does something or behaves in a particular way” (OALD*)

Motivation to learn a second language, not as a ‘trait’, but as a ‘characteristic’ of an individual

“It is relatively stable, because of its presumed antecedents, but it is amenable to change under certain conditions.” (Gardner, 2006:2) .

*Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary Online

What Researchers say!

It is dynamic…

Dornyei (2. 2001:9):

“In a general sense, motivation can be defined as the dynamically

changing cumulative arousal in a person that initiates, directs,

coordinates, amplifies, terminates, and evaluates the cognitive and

motor processes whereby initial wishes and desires are selected,

prioritized, operationalized, and (successfully or unsuccessfully)

acted out.” (Dornyei & Otto 1998:65, cited in Dornyei 2001:9)

What Researchers say!

Social Dimension of ESL motivation…

“Second Language learning motivation has an inherent social

dimension, and that is why it is different than learning other school

subjects. While rules of grammar or lexical items can be taught

explicitly, it is also socially and culturally bound.” Dornyei (2003:3-4),

What Researchers say!

Positive Attitude:The more the learner has a positive attitude towards the target language and the culture, the higher is the achievement.

Motivation, a driving force:“The motivated individual is goal directed, expends effort, is persistent, is attentive, has desires (wants), exhibits positive affect, is aroused, has expectancies, demonstrates self-confidence (self-efficacy), and has reasons (motives)”

(Gardner, 2006)

Integrative and instrumental constructs:

are inseparable in naturecome to the surface with passing timechange and altermodify with successful language experiencefacilitate new set of goals

Integrative and instrumental goals-mutually influencing each other

upgrade their personal and professional profile

reduce the social and psychological distance with the target language group by uplifting social status through linguistic improvement. enhance self confidence and competencechange learners’ attitude towards language and culture

The application of theories of motivational orientations to the context

“Arab-Canadian male students are primarily instrumentally motivated

towards learning English as L2, while Arab-Canadian female

students are integratively motivated.” Abu-Rabia (1995:323)

Acculturation Theory

Schumann uses two key concepts to explain the attitude of the minority group learning second language in multi-ethnic settings (1978 in Dornyei , 2001).

social-distance psychological distance.

Steps to acculturation

Seminars, presentations, and workshops Local festivals and events (multicultural potlucks, Halloween, blueberry/strawberry/apple picking, Natal Day parades, etc.). Field tripsThese factors affect their attitude to learn the language of the target culture and help them set their personal goals for their enhanced inter-ethnic contacts.

Requirements!

L2 learning requires inclusion of a wide range of social elements:

multiculturalismlanguage globalizationlanguage contactpower relations between different ethno-linguistic groups

Dornyei (2003:4) refers to Gardner (1979, cited in Dornyei, 2003) and Williams ( 1994, cited in Dornyei,2003)

Factors influencing acculturation

Length of residence in the target language area,

The amount of anxiety experienced in the new environment,

Personal goals for learning the target language (motivational orientations/integrative and/or instrumental),

Egoistic rigidity of every individual

Research Method

Quantitative Close-ended questionnaire1. Controlled Information2. One point of time

Qualitative Case Study1. Detailed description2. Longitudinal Approach3. Extended period of time

What I did for my research?

Needs assessment surveysGoal orientation workshopsSemi structured interviewsSemi formal email communications, andPlacement tests or official language benchmark assessment

Why I did it this way..

Semi structured interviews helped elicit additional information and more detailed personalized answers through open-ended questions rather than choosing from a set of provided answers (surveys/close-ended questions).

In-class observations helped collect data of ‘participants’ behavior and actions’ and reactions in the learning context (Mackey & Gass (2005:176)

1. Attitudinal orientations 2. Goal orientation, and self efficacy’ etc.

What happened next..

Two types of InterviewsIntake Interviews Notes

Results of the intake interviews demonstrated that more learners were interested in improving their listening and speaking skills in order to be able to communicate with the English speaking society.

In-class observations VignettesFinal Interviews Notes

Participants’ profile

Setting One: Non-Academic

six adult female (women) Arab immigrants. one to eight years of stay in Canadawide range of age group of 27-55 years. immigrated to Canada under the ‘family class’ category with their spouses and children. speak Arabic as their first language at home.

Participants’ profile

Setting Two: Academic

Adult female prospective students with Arabic language background The duration of their stay in Canada ranges from one week to 18 months. Participants belong to the age group of 18-27 years. Most of them came to Canada under the ‘student visa’ category All of the learners speak Arabic as their first language at home.

Findings!

Both integrative and instrumental constructs of motivation were found.The two orientations, however, appeared inseparable.Change in psychological attitude to the local language and culture was observed. The passing time results in wider interaction and deeper integration.Successful language learning process helps them aim at a new set of goals.

New goals emerging

The ESL competence helps learners in goal orientation and goal setting. These goals may be related to

achieving language competence for their social integration moving upward into the target language culture and community seeking jobs or upgrading professional qualificationunderstanding their needs better and adjust their goals accordingly

Implications for Future Practice

learners need to adopt a more positive attitude towards the target language and culture learning environment and the pedagogical techniques must be tailored towards attaining higher level of success. learning environment should also be supportive of giving the learners more awareness of ESL development language teacher should have better understanding of the difficulties and challenges learners are usually faced withteaching materials should raise help meeting the L2 learners’ needs in terms of language development, cultural understanding, and goal orientation

References

1. Abu-Rabia, S. (1995). Attitudes and cultural background and their relationship to English in a multicultural social context: the case of male and female Arab immigrants in Canada. Educational Psychology. Vol. 15 (3) 323

2. Dornyei. Z. (2003) refers to Gardner (1979, cited in Dornyei, 2003) and Williams ( 1994, cited in Dornyei,2003)

3. Dornyei, Z. (2003). Attitudes, orientations, and motivations in language learning: Advances in Theory, Research, and Applications University of Nottingham.

4. Dornyei, Z. (2001) Teaching and Researching Motivation. London: Pearson Education Limited, 135. Gardner, R. C. (2006). Motivation and second language acquisition. University of Western Ontario. This

manuscript was the basis of an address by the author to the Seminario Sobre. Plurilingüismo: Las Aportaciones Del Centro Europeo de Lenguas Modernas de Graz, on December 15, 2006 at the Universidad de Alcalá, Spain.

6. Mackey,A. & Gass, S.M. (2005) Second Language Research. Lawrence Erlbaum: Mahwah, New Jersey.7. Schumann, J. H. (1978). The acculturation model for second language acquisition. In Gingras, R. (Ed.)

Second language acquisition and foreign language teaching. Centre for Applied Linguistics, Arlington, VA. 27-107 in Dornyei, Z. (2001) Teaching and Researching Motivation. London: Pearson Education Limited, 13