Study abroad, L2 motivation and English language acquisition: A longitudinal study of the experience of Japanese university students studying English abroad and at home

Abstract

This portfolio of individual exploratory studies reports on the English language learning experiences of a cohort of Japanese university students who studied English abroad as a group during their first year at university. The studies focus on the students' English language learning experiences in three successive environments and time periods: the pre-study abroad period in Japan during the years of schooling, the study abroad period in the United Kingdom during the students' first year at university, and finally the post-study abroad period in Japan during the students' second and third years at university. Each study explores L2 motivation from different perspectives in order to capture the dynamic trajectory of L2 motivation in Japanese university students whose program of study includes studying English abroad. The portfolio draws on dynamic systems theory (DST) and L2 motivation theories to conceptualise the participants' learning journeys, and to identify diverse possible cognitive, social and environmental factors acting on the learning of an additional language and on motivation to learn an additional language. Applying the DST approach to the study participants' language learning has made it possible to trace their L2 journeys as multi-dimensional experiences, non-linear in nature and sensitive to the effect of temporal factors.