Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)

Investment in L2 learning among Iranian English language learners

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, English Language and Literature Department Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur Branch

2 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

3 English Language and Literature Dept., Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashha

Abstract

Drawing on Norton Peirce's (1995) theory of investment and Darvin and Norton's (2015) expanded the model of investment, the present study aims to research investment in second language (L2) learning among Iranian English language learners. The participants included 852 male and female English language learners belonging to different age groups and English language proficiency levels. A 42-item questionnaire, developed and validated by the present authors (forthcoming), was administered online and by hand. The results showed that Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners moderately invested to learn English language and that there were significant differences in the extent of investment between male and female participants and different language proficiency levels (low- and high-proficiency learners). Moreover, the results of the study demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the extent of investment between different age groups (teenage and adult ones). The study concludes with suggestions for future research on investment in L2 learning and a discussion of how such research can impact language education policy in EFL contexts.

Keywords

References
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Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Volume 37, Issue 3
October 2018
Pages 131-168
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History
  • Receive Date: 09 January 2019
  • Revise Date: 13 March 2019
  • Accept Date: 11 May 2019
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