Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines

Second language (henceforth L2) motivation has been traditionally studied from the lens of integrative motivation. However, this framework presents problems in that it is limiting and lacks insights from emerging cognitive motivational research. This paper investigated the L2 motivation of Timore...

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Main Authors: Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate, Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2016
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10162/1/12803-45003-1-PB.pdf
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author Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate
Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka
author_facet Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate
Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka
author_sort Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate
collection UKM
description Second language (henceforth L2) motivation has been traditionally studied from the lens of integrative motivation. However, this framework presents problems in that it is limiting and lacks insights from emerging cognitive motivational research. This paper investigated the L2 motivation of Timorese English language learners (henceforth ELLs) using Dörnyei’s (2009) L2 Motivational Self System and Markus and Nurius’s (1986) possible-selves theory. Ten Timorese ELLs studying in a school of higher learning in the Philippines participated in a free writing task and a follow-up focus group discussion. These activities aimed to examine the content and functions of the students’ two most important types of possible selves: ‘ideal L2 self’ and ‘ought-to L2 self.’ The results revealed that the students’ ‘ideal L2 self’ coincides with the original theoretical construct, which includes a promotion-focused function for studying English, i.e., to achieve personal goals and to communicate with other people. Interestingly, however, the present study corroborated Chen’s (2012) findings in the Taiwanese context that the ‘ought-to L2 self’ is not simply prevention-focused, but a mixture of prevention- and promotion-focused functions of learning English. The findings pointed to necessary research, curriculum design and pedagogical implications, which are discussed as this paper closes.
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spelling ukm.eprints-101622017-02-27T08:48:41Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10162/ Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka Second language (henceforth L2) motivation has been traditionally studied from the lens of integrative motivation. However, this framework presents problems in that it is limiting and lacks insights from emerging cognitive motivational research. This paper investigated the L2 motivation of Timorese English language learners (henceforth ELLs) using Dörnyei’s (2009) L2 Motivational Self System and Markus and Nurius’s (1986) possible-selves theory. Ten Timorese ELLs studying in a school of higher learning in the Philippines participated in a free writing task and a follow-up focus group discussion. These activities aimed to examine the content and functions of the students’ two most important types of possible selves: ‘ideal L2 self’ and ‘ought-to L2 self.’ The results revealed that the students’ ‘ideal L2 self’ coincides with the original theoretical construct, which includes a promotion-focused function for studying English, i.e., to achieve personal goals and to communicate with other people. Interestingly, however, the present study corroborated Chen’s (2012) findings in the Taiwanese context that the ‘ought-to L2 self’ is not simply prevention-focused, but a mixture of prevention- and promotion-focused functions of learning English. The findings pointed to necessary research, curriculum design and pedagogical implications, which are discussed as this paper closes. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2016-10 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10162/1/12803-45003-1-PB.pdf Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate and Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka (2016) Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines. GEMA: Online Journal of Language Studies, 16 (3). pp. 71-82. ISSN 1675-8021 http://ejournal.ukm.my/gema/issue/view/863
spellingShingle Quinto, Edward Jay Mansarate
Castillo, John Christopher Dimasaka
Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title_full Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title_fullStr Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title_full_unstemmed Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title_short Reconceptualizing the language motivation of Timorese ELLs in the Philippines
title_sort reconceptualizing the language motivation of timorese ells in the philippines
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10162/1/12803-45003-1-PB.pdf
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AT castillojohnchristopherdimasaka reconceptualizingthelanguagemotivationoftimoreseellsinthephilippines