Motivation and Second Foreign Language Proficiency: The Mediating Role of Foreign Language Enjoyment

Huiyu Zhang, Ying Dai and Yingchong Wang
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Huiyu Zhang: Department of Linguistics, School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ying Dai: Department of Linguistics, School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yingchong Wang: School of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing 100089, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Inadequate research attention has been paid to the learning of a third language. For this reason, this study explores senior English major students’ learning of additional foreign languages in seven universities in Shaanxi Province, China. The study examines the relationship between the participants’ motivation and language proficiency through a questionnaire, and the collected data are analyzed using hierarchical linear regression analysis. The results identify that the participants’ instrumental and integrative motivations positively influence their second foreign language proficiency. Further analysis reveals that the connection between the participants’ motivation and language proficiency is mediated by foreign language enjoyment. These findings form the basis of our suggestions for the sustainable learning and teaching of foreign languages in universities.

Keywords: second foreign language; multilingualism; motivation; language proficiency; foreign language enjoyment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1302-:d:319072

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