Motivation and Second Language Acquisition

R.C. Gardner University of Western Ontario

Olivia-Dumitrina Nechita

12/02/2015

Contents Introduction

Motivation and language

Motivational constructs

Learning a second language

Stages in second language acquisition

Cultural and Educational contexts

Results in Spain

Conclusion

Introduction Robert C. Gardner

Degree in psychology

University of Western Ontario

June, 2007

Stages of language acquisition

The role of motivation

Types of motivation

Motivation and language 1st language

Part of growing up

2nd language

Learnt in school

The motivated individual

Goal directed

Expends effort

Persistent

Attentive

Has desires and expectancies

Demonstrates self-confidence

Motivational constructs Language learning

motivation

Characteristic of the individual

Classroom learning motivation

Individuals perception of the task at hand

Teacher

Course content

Class atmosphere

Materials and

facilities

Personal characteristics

Learning a second language Vocabulary cluster

Elements of the language

Easy to master

Cultural cluster

Make the language part of the self

Bilingual skills due to experience in other languages

Stages in language acquisition

Elemental

Consolidation

Conscious expression

Automaticity & Thought

Stages in language acquisition Elemental

Basic vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation....

Consolidation

Develop rules

Sentence structure

The understanding of idioms

Stages in language acquisition Conscious expression

Conscious effort

Use of speech hesitations

Searching the right words

Automaticity & Thought

Language and though are automatic

Language and self become interconnected

Cultural and Educational contexts Cultural context and motivation

attitudes

beliefs

personality

ideas

expectations

North Americans Europeans

Its very difficult todo esto.

All the day, everyday, bonsais.

Cultural and Educational contexts Educational context

system

quality

teacher skills

adequacy

atmosphere

CULTURAL CONTEXT

EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT

Integrativeness (openness)

Attitudes toward the learning situation

Interest in other cultures

Absence of ethnocentrism

Integrative concept

Results in Spain

Variables E.S.O. 2 N=166

E.S.O. 4 N=136

Attitude .14 .18*

Integrativeness .32** .37**

Language anxiety -.39** -.38**

Instrumental Orientation 22** .21**

Parental Encouragement .12 .04

Motivation 40** .49**

Conclusions

Integrative motivation vs. Instrumental motivation a. The individual is motivated to learn the other language

b. The individual is learning the other language because of a genuine interest in communicating with members of that other language

c. The individual has a favourable attitude toward the language learning situation

The goal is acquisition

Language becomes part of the self

Ideal native speaker competence?

What can teachers do?