A Study of L2 Motivational Self System: A Comparison between First Year Students Following Engineering Local and Foreign Degrees in a Non-State Campus

Abstract

L2 motivation is vital to enhance L2 learning experience of L2 learners. The L2 Motivational Self System can be considered as one innovative solution through research advocating possible selves that act as future guides to motivate learners to improve their language fluency to that of an ideal fluent speaker. There is inadequate L2 motivational self-system research conducted in non-state institutes of higher education in Lankan context. Hence, the present research was administered to evaluate the L2 motivational self-system comprising of Ideal L2 self, Oughtto L2 self, and L2 Learning experience among first-year students following local and foreign engineering degree programs offered in a nonstate institute of higher education. The hypothesis for the present study is whether there is a significant difference in the Ideal L2 self, Ought-to L2 self, and L2 Learning Experience for first-year students following the engineering local and foreign degree programs. The sample selected was 62 students following foreign degrees and 212 students following local engineering degree programs. A questionnaire with 40 statements to test the 3 components of the theory was given to students following local and foreign engineering degrees. The data were evaluated with the 2 sample T-test. It was found that all 3 components of the L2 motivational self-system have significant values. In conclusion, students following the foreign degree programs have higher ideal L2 selves than those following local degree programs. Keywords: L2 motivation; Ideal L2 self; L2 learning experience