Motivation for second language learning
041087 Ayaka Yamamoto
Introduction
Motivation is commonly thought of as an inner drive, impulse, emotion, or
desire that moves one to a particular action. For example; practicing soccer to
become a representative player, cooking to make a family happy and so on. In
language learning, motivation can be defined in terms of the learner’s overall goal or
orientation, and it involves the attitudes and affective states that influence the
degree of effort that learners make to learn a second language.
Various kinds of motivation have been identified, but here I’d like to mention
instrumental and integrative motivation, and these examples.
Research Question
① What kinds of motivation do we have? What are those motivations?
② How each motivation influences us?
③ How should teachers make use of motivation affect in a class?
Instrumental motivation
Instrumental motivation refers to motivation to acquire a language as means
for attaining instrumental goals. For example; to get a better job, pass an
examination, get a place at university and so on.
Integrative motivation
An integrative motive is employed when learners wish to integrate
themselves within the culture of the second language group, to identify themselves
with and become a part of that society, for example; students feel like talking with
American people in English, singing English songs, and so on.
Motivational Dichotomies
INTRINSIC
Integrative
EXTRINSIC
L2 learner wishes to integrate with Someone else wishes the L2
the
L2 culture (e.g.,
for learner to know the L2 for
immigration or marriage)
integrative
reasons
(e.g.,
Japanese parents send kids to
Japanese-language school)
Instrumental L2 learner wishes to achieve goals External power wants L2 learner
utilizing L2 (e.g., for a career)
to learn L2 (e.g., corporation
sends Japanese businessman to
U.S. for language training)
To motivate various students, teachers should have some concrete plan, for
example;
Instrumental
motivation
Integrative
motivation
To know the reason why the students study English (to
get a job, examination, etc)
To give them lessons or tasks which suit each student.
To be familiar with foreign culture (not only English
culture)
To exchange with foreign students using internet,
letters, e-mail and so on.
Besides, teachers need to be careful of the following items, and check them.
Instrumental motivation
What’s the purpose the student need to learn English?
Are the tasks authentic and interesting?
Do you utilize useful tool (internet, books and so on) ?
Integrative motivation
Do you grasp different cultures from relative viewpoint?
Do you try to know pop culture about English?
What’s foreign culture are students interested in?