The Relationship between Social Identity and Foreign Language Learning Motivation: The Sustainability of Heritage Language Learners

Luis Miguel Dos Santos
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Luis Miguel Dos Santos: Endicott College, Woosong University, Daejeon 14696, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the relationship between social identity and language learning motivations of a group of heritage Spanish language learners in a university environment in the United States. Based on the qualitative research inquiry with semi-structured interview and focus group activity tools, a group of 78 Spanish language learners in one university environment in the United States were surveyed. Under the open-coding and axial-coding techniques, the finding of this study indicated that the three main motivations were Latinx Americans with dual identities, interests in career development, and surrounding environments and individuals. Department heads, non-profit organisation managers, and researchers may use this study as the blueprint to reform and polish the current foreign language teaching and learning programmes, courses, and policies to meet the expectations of multilingualism.

Keywords: foreign language teaching; foreign language learning; heritage language learning; learning behaviour; motivation of learning; second language learning; social cognitive career and motivation theory; social identity; sustainable language learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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