German language learning in England: understanding the enthusiasts

Abstract

This study explores the motivation of English undergraduates to study German. In a context focused approach the history of German language learning in England is reviewed first. The historical findings in combination with a review of L2 motivation research lead to the empirical work. Inspired by Ushioda’s (2009) person-in-context relational view of motivation I have conducted cross-sectional qualitative interview research with groups of British undergraduates who study German at two different English universities. The data collected gives an insight into language learning motivation in general and shows what is specific to Anglophone learners and to German language learning. Through qualitative data analysis relating to different language learning motivation models I test the relevance of the concepts of integrativeness, instrumental orientation and the L2 motivational self system, to the learning of a high status ‘niche’ language which is often a third language for Anglophone students.

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