What makes a flourishing language self? A positive psychology perspective on LOTE learners’ language learning motivation
type: CreativeWork
description: Informed by Dörnyei’s (2009) L2 Motivational Self System and Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model, this PhD research investigates Chinese learners’ motivation to learn a language other than English (LOTE) from a positive psychology perspective (PP). Three overarching research aims were adopted as follows: 1. To unravel Chinese learners’ LOTE motivational profiles; 2. To identify the LOTE motivational trajectories among Chinese learners; 3. To examine the role of L2 learning experience in constructing various LOTE motivational trajectories. In recognition of the dynamic nature of L2 motivation, a fully longitudinal mixed-method design was employed to obtain a comprehensive while nuanced understanding of learners’ motivational dynamics over six months. To address three primary research objectives, the study was structured into two phases. The first phase was aimed at achieving the first research objective. In order to present a fine-grained, item-level analysis of Chinese learners’ LOTE motivational profiles, a PP-inspired instrument of L2 learning experience was first developed and validated. This new scale, along with established scales measuring learners’ ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self was administered to 304 Chinese learners studying a LOTE at universities. Qualitative data were also collected during this phase from open questions. Results indicated that Chinese learners displayed prominent ideal L2 selves, as well as predominantly positive L2 learning experience—including emotions, engagement, relationships, and a sense of meaning and accomplishment. In contrast, learners’ ought-to L2 self was relatively weak, exerting limited influence on learners’ LOTE motivation. To better understand the motivational dynamics among Chinese LOTE learners, the second phase focused on the remaining two research aims. Specifically, the sample was narrowed down to a smaller cohort of 29 LOTE learners, with three rounds of data collection over six months. A combination of methods inclu…
abstract: Informed by Dörnyei’s (2009) L2 Motivational Self System and Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model, this PhD research investigates Chinese learners’ motivation to learn a language other than English (LOTE) from a positive psychology perspective (PP). Three overarching research aims were adopted as follows: 1. To unravel Chinese learners’ LOTE motivational profiles; 2. To identify the LOTE motivational trajectories among Chinese learners; 3. To examine the role of L2 learning experience in constructing various LOTE motivational trajectories. In recognition of the dynamic nature of L2 motivation, a fully longitudinal mixed-method design was employed to obtain a comprehensive while nuanced understanding of learners’ motivational dynamics over six months. To address three primary research objectives, the study was structured into two phases. The first phase was aimed at achieving the first research objective. In order to present a fine-grained, item-level analysis of Chinese learners’ LOTE motivational profiles, a PP-inspired instrument of L2 learning experience was first developed and validated. This new scale, along with established scales measuring learners’ ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self was administered to 304 Chinese learners studying a LOTE at universities. Qualitative data were also collected during this phase from open questions. Results indicated that Chinese learners displayed prominent ideal L2 selves, as well as predominantly positive L2 learning experience—including emotions, engagement, relationships, and a sense of meaning and accomplishment. In contrast, learners’ ought-to L2 self was relatively weak, exerting limited influence on learners’ LOTE motivation. To better understand the motivational dynamics among Chinese LOTE learners, the second phase focused on the remaining two research aims. Specifically, the sample was narrowed down to a smaller cohort of 29 LOTE learners, with three rounds of data collection over six months. A combination of methods inclu…
author: Li, Zixuan
language: eng
keywords: L2 learning experience, LOTE motivation, Motivational dynamics, Positive psychology
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/33ef3475-3149-47f7-8526-1c4cb7f1205d/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2023-12-31
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:04Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.108348