Exploring the L2 Motivational Self System in Relation to the Variables Lexical Availability and Overseas Experience with English-Major Students in Gran Canaria

This article provides an analysis of the motivational nature of seventy-nine English-major students in the second year of their degree in Modern Languages at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria using Dörnyei's L2 Motivational Self System, in combination with an exploration of the varia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista electrónica de lingüística aplicada 2020-01, Vol.19 (2), p.108
Main Authors: Sandu, Bianca Manuela, Oxbrow, Gina Louise
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
College students
English as a second language
Motivation
Second language learning
Variables
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Summary:This article provides an analysis of the motivational nature of seventy-nine English-major students in the second year of their degree in Modern Languages at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria using Dörnyei's L2 Motivational Self System, in combination with an exploration of the variables of lexical availability and overseas experience in the target language context. Preliminary findings indicate the following: 1) L2 learning experience emerged as the most significant predictor of subjective intended effort in a model which showed that the relationship between the motivational variables considered was statistically significant; 2) the stronger a student's Ideal L2 Self, the wider their lexical availability, although analysis of the Ought-to Self showed its marginal relevance; 3) students who have been to an English-speaking country showed a stronger Ideal L2 Self and a richer lexical repertoire.
ISSN:1885-9089
DOI:10.1017/S0261444820000154