Motivation in Second Language Learning
Motivation in Second Language Learning
Mario Guerrero
[email protected]
University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Motivation has a significant role in the process of language learning. It is important to understand its
theoretical evolution in this field to be able to consider its relevance in the learning and teaching of a foreign
language. Motivation is a term that is commonly used among language teachers and language learners but
perhaps many are not aware of the different theories related to this topic and their teaching implications. This
essay is an attempt to understand motivation over the past forty years in the different theories associated with
language acquisition. Finally, there is a personal comment on motivation and its relevance at a public high
school in Pasto, Colombia.
*
Received: August 22, 2014. Accepted: December 12, 2014.
How to cite this article (APA 6th ed.):
Guerrero, M. (2015). Motivation in second language learning: A historical overview and its relevance in a public high
school in Pasto, Colombia. HOW, 22(1), 95-106.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
License. License Deed can be consulted at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
HOW Vol. 22, No. 1, April/September 2015, ISSN 0120-5927. Bogotá, Colombia. Pages: 95-106 95
Mario Guerrero
ñan za de idio mas. Por úl ti mo, se hace una re fle xión so bre la motivación en estudiantes de idiomas en un
colegio público en la ciudad de Pasto, Colombia.
Pa la bras clave: apren di za je de una se gun da len gua, en se ñan za de una se gun da len gua, mo ti
va- ción.
Introduction
It is common to hear that the success or failure of a language learner to master a second language
(L2) depends on their motivation. Motivation is usually associated with commitment, enthusiasm,
and persistence to achieve goals. The Oxford Online Dictionary defines motivation as the “desire or
willingness to do something” (Motivation, 2014). The Psychology Dictionary Online defines motivation
as: (1) the driving force setting a direction to the behavior of humans and animals at a conscious and
unconscious level, and (2) the willingness of a person to achieve a goal at a physical or mental level
(Motivation, n.d.). Therefore, teachers play a relevant role in this process as they should know how to
motivate students. Unfortunately, it is said that keeping students motivated is the second most
complicated challenge for teachers (Hadfield & Dörnyei, 2013). As a language teacher, you
sometimes work with students who have very defined goals and a disposition to learn. Sometimes
this translates into a more productive and satisfying teaching and learning experience. Nonetheless,
other students seem to take a language class because they “have to” and their learning process might
result in a slower or less enjoyable process.
The purpose of this essay is to describe and discuss theoretical L2 motivation principles in the
field of second language learning over the past 40 years by reporting the key findings of relevant and
recent research studies on motivation. Furthermore, a discussion on the relevance of L2 motivation
to a pedagogical context in a high school in Colombia will be presented.
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Motivation in Second Language Learning: A Historical Overview
and Its Relevance in a Public High School in Pasto, Colombia
and the target language. Therefore, considering Gardner’s theory, social context and attitudes
towards the L2 and L2 communities are the foundation to understand language learners’
motivation. Fishbein and Ajzen (as cited in O’Rourke, 2011) define attitudes as the positive or
negative response of an individual regarding a specific object. In terms of language learning, the
authors mention that the “object” is evidently the target language.
Gardner and Lambert’s (1972) theory of motivation draws an important relationship between
motivation and orientation or “goal”. Consequently, the authors proposed two terms that are
commonly used in the field of motivation: Integrative orientation refers to the positive disposition of an
individual to learn a language, its culture, and its community. Integrative motivated learners might
have a significant and strong reason to learn the L2. On the other hand, instrumental orientation refers
to the practical reasons of an individual to learn a language. Some people might be motivated to learn
a second language as a required part of their studies, or to get a higher salary. Additionally, Gardner
(1985) proposed integrative motive, which means the positive attitudes of an individual towards the L2
community.
It is important to mention that during this period there were other theories about motivation
after Gardner and Lambert. Clément et al. (as cited in Kiil Molberg, 2010) developed the concept of
linguistic self-confidence. This theory states that being part of a multilingual community may serve as a
motivational aspect for any individual who may come in contact with the L2 community. In addition,
Schumann (1986) proposed the acculturation theory. Acculturation is the integration of the learner into
the L2 community. However, the simple intercultural contact with the L2 community is only the first
step in this learning process. Being part of this environment allows the learner to interact with L2
speakers and provides the learner with the necessary input for the learning to take place.
In this period, Gardner proposed most of the theories in L2 motivation. Despite the criticism by
other researchers in this field, Gardner’s theories have evidently served as the foundation and starting
point to inspire other researchers in order to better understand motivation in the L2 field and in
other fields. It is worth noting that Gardner’s bilingual context in Canada inspired his research and
findings. The focus on the attitudes of the individual towards both the L2 and the L2 community is
probably not transferrable or applicable to other contexts that are monolingual. Hence, it would have
been important to consider other aspects of society in communities where there might be more
limitations in terms of the interaction with other L2 communities. This might be the case in
Colombia where Spanish is predominantly the language used to communicate and the opportunities
for its nationals to leave Colombia can generally be a challenging task due to visa and immigration
restrictions. Finally, it would be interesting to consider the attitudes of the L2 community towards the
English-speaking foreigners in order to be able to consider to what extent Colombian citizens might
be interested in using English as the language with which to
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communicate. Some other issues might impact the motivation of learners in a specific context. For
example, based on personal experience, illegal Latino immigrants in the US are not often welcome
to fully participate in the American society. Many laws restrict immigrants
as regards social immersion in this L2 community. Therefore, the attitudes from the L2 community
should also be relevant in this theory.
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Motivation in Second Language Learning: A Historical Overview
and Its Relevance in a Public High School in Pasto, Colombia
proposed by Gardner, but most importantly because this theory takes into consideration specific
aspects inside the pedagogical process (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011). Finally, Tremblay et al. (as cited in
Dörnyei, 2002) proposed trait and state motivation. Trait refers to a particular person’s motivation
whereas state motivation refers to a more specific or temporary learner motivation.
In this period the transition from a general to a more specific perspective in the understanding of
L2 motivation becomes more evident. This does not disregard the previous theories in the social and
psychological period—but it serves as the foundation to explore other areas where L2 motivation
had not been studied. It is also interesting to see howGardner’s instrumental and integrative terms have
served as a basis for other terms that included more aspects of the learner as is the case in Dörnyei’s
(1994) three level theory and the trait/state motivation terms proposed by Tremblay et al.
Furthermore, during this period there was a greater interest in learners and their learning experiences
as opposed to the focus on the attitudes towards the L2 in the previous period. This focus possibly
proved to be fundamental for other researchers in order to understand that L2 motivation was not
only influenced by social and psychological aspects, but it was also influenced by more specific
aspects inside the classroom such as the curriculum, the syllabus, the learners’ needs, and the role of
the teacher. Finally, the use of tasks as tools to measure L2 motivation, proposed by Dörnyei (1994),
sets an easier way to break down the understanding of motivation in the learning process. With this
in mind, motivational research can be analyzed into smaller and probably more tangible aspects in the
learning process.
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actional (e.g., registering for a language class), post-actional (e.g., external feedback or
personal beliefs).
This period clearly shows a more special interest in language learners and their specific
circumstances. Williams and Burden (1997), for instance, considered the learning process before and
during the classroom experience. Dörnyei and Otto (as cited in Dörnyei &Ushioda, 2011) proposed
the learner’s motivational stages suggesting that motivation needed to be explored from other
perspectives at the learner’s personal level. Consequently, this period raises awareness on learners and
their specific learning context in L2 motivational research. The latter will result in the beginning of
the new and most recent phase of L2 motivational research (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011).
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Motivation in Second Language Learning: A Historical Overview
and Its Relevance in a Public High School in Pasto, Colombia
Educational Context
Colombia is a developing country in South America. Spanish is the official language. I have been part
of this institution (high school) as both a student and teacher trainee and have developed educational
projects after I graduated. These endeavors involved the development of community-based projects
between the department of English in this high school and the local public university in the same city.
Pasto is a very small city located in the south of Colombia. Its economy is based on agriculture and
due to the war conflict, tourism in this area has rarely attracted people from other countries in the
past 40 years. The opportunities for people in this region to speak to others in a different language
do not seem to be relevant. Nonetheless, it is important to mention that social media and the effort
of the Colombian
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government to provide Colombian citizens with mobility opportunities seems to have broadened
the travel and work abroad alternatives.
The institution. Normal High School is a public institution that was founded in 1911 with the
purpose of preparing high school students to become future primary and high school teachers. The
long trajectory of this institution and the support of the local and national governments have allowed
this high school to become one of the most prestigious institutions. In addition, the current
administration has not only invested in newtechnological equipment for all of the subjects but has
also formed new partnerships with different universities and other educational institutions in order to
provide faculty members and students with better learning and teaching opportunities. One of the
new technology rooms in this institution includes cutting edge laptops, computers with access to the
Internet with specialized dictionaries and subscriptions to English online laboratories. This is
evidently a major opportunity for English language teachers and students because it serves as a tool
to improve their proficiency skills. Unfortunately, the institution has only one English laboratory and
the number of students is greater. This prevents students from having access to this room at any
time.
The students. Normal High School had 3,772 registered students in 2010 (Burgos, 2011). Most of
the students are from Pasto and the city’s surrounding villages. This is a public high school and,
even though there are no official data sources, most of the students come
from low-income families. The ages of the students are from 3 to 4 years old in kindergarten, 5 to 11
years old in primary school and 12-18 years old in high school. Students are required to pay a small
registration and matriculation fee every year.
Faculty and English language curriculum. Normal High School’s curriculum has nine major
subject areas. English language is part of the Humanities, Spanish Language and Foreign Language
Department (Escuela Normal de Pasto, 2014). While it says foreign languages, the only foreign
language offered is English. Normal High School students are not required to take English or any
foreign language classes during their elementary studies. During the last six years in high school,
students take compulsory English classes. English instruction is limited to two hours per week and
classes have an average of 40 students in them. Students get prepared to take a national standardized
test in all subjects including English. The test requires students to be able to read basic passages and
to understand intermediate grammar concepts of the English language. No listening or speaking
skills are tested. In terms of English language teachers, there are only four full time instructors. All of
them are native Spanish speakers from Colombia. Their ages are 35 to 50 years old. In my role as a
university lecturer, I was able to observe some English classes. Teachers deliver their classes mostly in
Spanish and rely mostly on grammar-translation. Students are not required to use an English
textbook due to the costs of the texts. The teachers bring into the class
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and Its Relevance in a Public High School in Pasto, Colombia
photocopies and other material relevant to the content of the lesson. I was also able to interact with
some of the teachers in English and some of them were not able to maintain a basic conversation in
English. Some of them have had the opportunity to visit the United States for holidays and the
others have never been to an English speaking country. The teachers hold a bachelors degree in
Modern Languages from the local university and some of them hold a “specialization degree” in
English language teaching pedagogy. Specializations are degrees offered in Colombian universities
after a bachelor’s degree and before a master’s degree.
Motivation and Its Relevance at Normal High School
After describing the theories on L2 motivation, let us consider their relevance to the
aforementioned teaching context. I will consider the learning process of Normal High School
students in three different contexts:
a. Social context: the theories of the social and psychological period suggest that learners’
motivation is in sync with their attitudes towards the L2 and the L2 community. For
Normal High School students, the interaction with the L2 is generally limited to the two
hours a week of English instruction in their schools. As many of these students come
from low-income backgrounds, the access to a computer and the Internet at home can be
challenging. Public television is always in Spanish, which means that access to other L2
resources is very restricted. The opportunity for Normal High School students to travel
abroad is also difficult. Since Colombia is considered a dangerous country, all
English-speaking countries require Colombian nationals to apply for a tourist visa to visit
their countries. Visa requirements are overwhelming and usually only granted to people
with higher salaries. Nevertheless, English as an international language has raised
awareness in companies and employers to demand a higher English proficiency level in
Colombia. This might serve as an instrumental motivation for Normal High School
students. Ushioda’s (as cited in Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011) theory is also relevant as it pays
attention to the future goals of each learner. Unfortunately, the foundations of Gardner’s
theories in the social period were based on a bilingual context. Many of these theories
might not be relevant to a social context in Pasto for the reasons described before.
b. Language policy and teaching context: At a classroom level, instruction comes fromteachers who,
in general, have not had the opportunity to live, work or study in the L2 community.
Some theories are relevant in this regard. Dörnyei’s (1994) learning situation level
considers the specific classroom and learning conditions. Additionally, William and
Burden’s (as cited in Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011) theory
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on the learner’s previous and current classroom conditions are important in Normal High
School students as future intentions and current classroominstruction are considered.
Finally, it would be recommended to ascertain whether the teachers’ methodology and
their professional experience also influence learners’ motivation. Few native English
speakers have visited Pasto. The very fewEnglish language academies that exist tend to
hire native English speakers who do not have the professional and educational
background to teach English. It seems, therefore, that the only requirement needed to
become a teacher is to be a native speaker. Based on personal experience, I registered for
an Italian class taught by an Italian teacher who had never taught languages before. I lost
interest in the class after two weeks and never attended this class again. While this was just
a personal experience, there is a need to consider other students’ experiences in order to
get a better understanding of this personal experience.
c. Personal context: Despite the social context, the positive or negative L2 instruction, and the
ambitious goals of the Colombian government, each Normal High School student is
unique. There is no evidence these students have not learned English, or that they have
never achieved higher proficiency language levels in the L2. I say this as a Normal High
School alumnus and Colombian citizen who has achieved a higher proficiency in English
as an L2. Dörnyei’s (as cited in Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011) individual differences theory
helps better understand this situation and supports the importance of the academic
potential of each student. The person-in-context approach by Ushioda (2009) is useful
also as it demonstrates that each learner should be seen as a “real person” with different
characteristics. While the conditions might be the same for every Normal High School
student, some might explore other strategies to improve their L2 knowledge.
Conclusions
L2 motivation has gone through different stages over the past 40 years. Gardner’s theories served as a
starting point to understand L2 motivation. Since then, the various motivation periods have gone
through a process of evolution in which relevant theories were reformulated to specific learning
contexts while some other approaches were criticized. The most recent period has interestingly
brought our attention to the complexity of L2 motivation. This suggests that results cannot be
predicted and more than two variables are involved in the learning process. Therefore, it continues to
be difficult to agree on one single definition of L2 motivation. There are too many aspects and
personal learners’ traits to consider in the process of understanding their motivation towards second
language learning. Finally, it can be claimed that many of the L2 motivational theories might not be
applicable to
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every context. There are social, political, financial, and personal aspects that need to be considered.
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The Author
Mario Guerrero holds a Masters in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of
Leicester (UK) and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Fordham University (USA). He has
taught English as a Second Language and Spanish in British and American Universities as well as
English as a Foreign Language in a Colombian university. His research interests are related to
language and gender, male written and spoken discourse analysis.
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