Towards a Comprehensive Framework of Motivation to Learn: a Validation Study

Abstract

Motivation has been an important construct in second language acquisition and received extensive attention on how it affects learning and performance. The aims of this current review paper are multifaceted. 1) It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the major motivation theories in the past decades. 2) Motivation theories specific to second/foreign learning context are to be included and explain the current state of the different domains of motivation theories. 3) It provides a critical evaluation of the rich body of motivation theories. 4) it also gives directions to propose a framework for motivation to learn a second/foreign language based on the major theories and approaches developed in the past. With this proposed comprehensive framework for motivation to learn a second/foreign language, it is hoped that a fuller picture of how different aspects and factors can be of significance to a learner’s motivation to learn. For educators, this framework can shed light on the pathways to effective teaching and learning by understanding what affects a learner’s motivation to learn English. For researchers, this paper would like to offer a future research direction for effectuation, validation, and modification of this proposed comprehensive framework.