Motivation to Learn a Second Language: L2 Proficiency

Research Paper on The Relation between Learners’ Motivation to Learn a Second Language and their Eventual Attainment of L2 Proficiency Name Institutional Affiliation Research Paper on The Relation between Learners’ Motivation to Learn a Second Language and their Eventual Attainment of L2 Proficiency Abstract In order to understand the relation between learners’ motivation to learn a second language and their eventual attainment of L2 proficiency, a unique research methodology must be applied. A combination of observation and longitudinal mixed-method approaches complement each other in ways that increase the probability of establishing the nature of the relationship between learners’ motivation when learning a second language, as well as how, or if, said motivation contributes towards the attainment of L2 proficiency in the short, mid, or long-term. Introduction Learning a language is often a daunting process for many individuals, and purposely so because of the myriad of challenges that learning a new language from scratch poses (Cohen, 2014). As such, it is often common for such individuals to either drop out of their language classes or fail in their efforts to gain proficiency in a second language. While this can easily be attributed to the fact that numerous factors can, and do, contribute towards the failure of many learners to attain L2 proficiency, it must also be exclusively noted that learner motivation plays a critical role in this respect. Learning a new language is often a process of adventure and challenge, and one that can be extremely exciting if handled in the right manner (Gass & Mackey, 2012). In this sense, it is crucial that learners remain motivated for the majority of the time that they are pursuing L2 proficiency. This motivation not only pushes them to work harder at improving their proficiency in a second language, but also ensures that said learners can build and develop self-confidence not only in themselves but also in their ability to attain L2 proficiency (Yu & Shen, 2012). The research question addresses the crux of this matter by attempting to establish the relation, if any, between learners’ motivations to learn a new second language and how this eventually affects their attainment of said L2 proficiency (Moskovsky, Alrabai, Paolini & Ratcheva, 2012). Presently, it has emerged quite clearly that motivation is an influential factor and determinant in the ability of second language learners to attain proficiency in their language of choice (Kim & Kim, 2014). In order to attain L2 proficiency, consistent efforts to continually improve one’s understanding and vocabulary of the language in question are crucial. However, it must also be noted that such motivation should develop intrinsically before being supported by external agents such as friends, family, and instructors (Wesely, 2012). Maintaining high levels of self-efficacy further stimulate and motivate learners to improve their L2 proficiency, which eventually results in the attainment of proficiency. While much research has established that motivation contributes significantly towards the attainment of L2 proficiency, it is yet to be conclusively established that the relationship between motivation and L2 proficiency attainment is indeed causative. Methods In order to effectively conduct such a study, a number of methodological approaches can be considered. While the methods can be either qualitative or quantitative in nature, it must also be noted that they should suit the core aim of the study as espoused by the research question (Dixon et al., 2012). In an attempt to address this issue, numerous peer-reviewed articles, as well as books, will prove to be quintessential. By sourcing for literature relevant to the research question, diverse ideas on the appropriate methodology can be examined, and their efficacy assessed both individually and collectively. This is targeted at ensuring that reliable findings the study can be attained, and in doing so help to answer the research question. In order to obtain relevant literature, online databases of peer-reviewed journal articles and published books will serve as the search engines. To access the highest variety of articles possible, the databases will only be subjected to searches of the research question without imposing any additional constraints. This is aimed at ensuring that any article with a possible explanation of the relationship between learners’ motivation and attainment of L2 proficiency can be accessed and reviewed. Thereafter, the identified articles will be further critiqued for eligibility using the research question as a benchmark. The ability of the study to address the core issues of the research question, which are motivation and L2 pr...