A multimodal investigation of EFL upper-intermediate learners’ conceptual metaphors of language learning with some psychological implications

Mohammad Awad Al-Dawoody Abdulaal (), Naglaa Fathy Mohammad Atia Abuslema, Amal Zakaria Mahmoud Hal, Asma’ Abdelhaleem Amer and Waheed M. A. Altohami
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Mohammad Awad Al-Dawoody Abdulaal: Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
Naglaa Fathy Mohammad Atia Abuslema: Port Said University
Amal Zakaria Mahmoud Hal: Port Said University
Asma’ Abdelhaleem Amer: Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
Waheed M. A. Altohami: Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

Palgrave Communications, 2023, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Increased attention has been directed toward utilizing visual modes because linguistic modes cannot accurately depict L2 learners’ metaphorical conceptions of their language-acquisition experiences. The goal of this study was to investigate the mental images that Saudi EFL students may have in mind while learning a foreign language. To this end, both verbal and nonverbal metaphorical conceptions were investigated. An experimental group of 12 students was randomly selected. Both the learners’ written responses and drawn descriptions were evaluated to tap into the learners’ mental representations of foreign language learning. The multimodality-based analysis of the upper-intermediate learners’ metaphors demonstrated that the EFL learners’ metaphorical verbal and non-verbal representations had the same perspectives on learning a foreign language. The learners’ positive attitudes were also revealed by the extracted metaphorical concepts. Most of the metaphorical representations showed language learning as an exciting and uniquely personal experience. Few metaphorical representations showed that learning English was an awful experience.

Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-01546-9

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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01546-9

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