Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities
Even though the European Union has long promoted multilingualism, it has proven difficult to achieve widespread multilingual language competence beyond English through formal education in Europe. In Sweden, high dropout rates have been recorded in second foreign language (SFL) classes, and French is...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Languages |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/6/1/47 |
| _version_ | 1797541313479966720 |
|---|---|
| author | Céline Rocher Hahlin Jonas Granfeldt |
| author_facet | Céline Rocher Hahlin Jonas Granfeldt |
| author_sort | Céline Rocher Hahlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Even though the European Union has long promoted multilingualism, it has proven difficult to achieve widespread multilingual language competence beyond English through formal education in Europe. In Sweden, high dropout rates have been recorded in second foreign language (SFL) classes, and French is currently the most vulnerable language among the major SFLs with respect to the number of pupils and availability across the country. Therefore, an important question is how to increase the motivation for studying foreign languages other than English (LOTE), especially French. This paper reports on a semester-long quasi-experimental intervention study, with three activities designed to enhance pupils’ ideal L3 self (IL3S) and increase their intended effort (IE) to learn French. Data were collected in two grade 9 intervention classes (<i>n</i> = 45) and in a control class (<i>n</i> = 14) in Sweden using questionnaires and focus group interviews. We measured the effect of the intervention through pre- and post-tests in both groups and additionally after each activity in the intervention classes. The results showed no overall significant effect of the intervention, but a positive effect on IE among the students with the highest level of IL3S prior to the intervention. Moreover, gender differences were found for the initial activity on both IL3S and on IE. The results are discussed in relation to the ease of accessing the self-image and characteristics of IL3S that enhance activities and gender effects. Methodological challenges involved in intervention studies with intact classes are also highlighted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:14:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-196e229f21524ca1b1b6bafe60f289e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-471X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:14:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Languages |
| spelling | doaj.art-196e229f21524ca1b1b6bafe60f289e32023-11-21T10:29:16ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2021-03-01614710.3390/languages6010047Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing ActivitiesCéline Rocher Hahlin0Jonas Granfeldt1School of Languages, Dalarna University, 791 88 Falun, SwedenCentre for Languages and Literature, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, SwedenEven though the European Union has long promoted multilingualism, it has proven difficult to achieve widespread multilingual language competence beyond English through formal education in Europe. In Sweden, high dropout rates have been recorded in second foreign language (SFL) classes, and French is currently the most vulnerable language among the major SFLs with respect to the number of pupils and availability across the country. Therefore, an important question is how to increase the motivation for studying foreign languages other than English (LOTE), especially French. This paper reports on a semester-long quasi-experimental intervention study, with three activities designed to enhance pupils’ ideal L3 self (IL3S) and increase their intended effort (IE) to learn French. Data were collected in two grade 9 intervention classes (<i>n</i> = 45) and in a control class (<i>n</i> = 14) in Sweden using questionnaires and focus group interviews. We measured the effect of the intervention through pre- and post-tests in both groups and additionally after each activity in the intervention classes. The results showed no overall significant effect of the intervention, but a positive effect on IE among the students with the highest level of IL3S prior to the intervention. Moreover, gender differences were found for the initial activity on both IL3S and on IE. The results are discussed in relation to the ease of accessing the self-image and characteristics of IL3S that enhance activities and gender effects. Methodological challenges involved in intervention studies with intact classes are also highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/6/1/47motivationLOTEsFrench as a foreign languageideal selfintervention |
| spellingShingle | Céline Rocher Hahlin Jonas Granfeldt Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities Languages motivation LOTEs French as a foreign language ideal self intervention |
| title | Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities |
| title_full | Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities |
| title_short | Strengthening L3 French Motivation: The Differential Impact of Vision-Enhancing Activities |
| title_sort | strengthening l3 french motivation the differential impact of vision enhancing activities |
| topic | motivation LOTEs French as a foreign language ideal self intervention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/6/1/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT celinerocherhahlin strengtheningl3frenchmotivationthedifferentialimpactofvisionenhancingactivities AT jonasgranfeldt strengtheningl3frenchmotivationthedifferentialimpactofvisionenhancingactivities |