OJPR Home

2023 - Volume 7 - Number 2

Motivation in Adults Between 30 to 60 Years Old for Learning a Foreign or Second Language

Lucia Denisse Cabrera Rivera *  ORCID: 0000-0002-0514-878X
University of Guanajuato, Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Guanajuato, MEXICO

Open Journal for Psychological Research, 2023, 7(2), 41-52 * https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojpr.0702.02041c
Received: 8 June 2023 ▪ Revised: 27 July 2023 ▪ Accepted: 13 August 2023

LICENCE: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ARTICLE (Full Text - PDF)

ABSTRACT:
Learning another language, especially English, has become quite popular in the last years. Adults have very busy lives, between work, family, and personal and economical goals, learning a language can be very challenging. The following research inquires some of the reasons that adults between 30 to 60 years old have regarding learning English as a second or foreign language. The research tool used was a questionnaire that was asked to 3 participants, all of them with different backgrounds and contexts. The research concluded different motivational factors that adult students have to learn English. Some of these factors are job opportunities, personal growth or satisfaction, and public relations. The research shows how all of the participants consider learning English as something useful in the modern world.

KEY WORDS: motivation, adult language learning, English as a foreign language.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Lucia Denisse Cabrera Rivera, University of Guanajuato, Division of Social Sciences and Humanities, Guanajuato, MEXICO.

REFERENCES:

Anderson, C., Bjorkman, B., Denis, D., Doner, J., Grant, M., Sanders, N., & Taniguchi, A. (2022, February 28). 12.2 motivations for adult language learners. Essentials of Linguistics 2nd edition. Retrieved 29 November 2022, from https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/essentialsoflinguistics2/chapter/12-2-motivations-for-adult-language-learning/.

Ausubel, D. P. (1964). Adults versus children in second-language learning: Psychological considerations. The Modern Language Journal, 48(7), 420-424.

Bailey, N., Madden, C., & Krashen, S. D. (1974). Is there a “natural sequence” in adult second language learning? Language Learning, 24(2), 235-243.

Brown, J. D. (2009). Open-response items in questionnaires. In J. Heigham & R. A. Crooker (Eds.), Qualitative research in applied linguistics (pp. 200-219). Palgrave Macmillan.

Cantor, P., Osher, D., Berg, J., Steyer, L., & Rose, T. (2018). Malleability, plasticity, and individuality: How children learn and develop in context1. Applied Developmental Science, 23(4), 307-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2017.1398649

Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum.

English Language Centre (2013, September 30). 4 reasons why learning English is so important. Reasons why learning English is important. Retrieved 1 December 2022, from https://www.elc-schools.com/blog/4-reasons-why-learning-english-is-so-important/#:~:text=Knowing%20English%20increases%20your%20chances,entertainment%20as%20well%20as%20work.

Fernald, L. D., & Fernald, P. S. (1978).  Introduction to psychology. Houghton Mifflin.

Gardner, R. (2001). Integrative motivation and second language acquisition. In Z. Dörnyei & R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and second language acquisition, (pp. 1-20). University of Hawai’i Press.

Hall, G. (2011). Exploring English language teaching language in action. Routledge.

Hartley, J. (2004). Case study research. In C. Cassell & G. Symon (Eds.), Essential guide to qualitative methods in organizational research (pp. 323-333). Sage Publications Ltd.

Heigham, J., & Croker, R. (Eds.). (2009). Qualitative research in applied linguistics: A practical introduction. Springer.

Hulleman, C. S., & Hulleman, T. (2018, January 10). An important piece of the student motivation Puzzle - Futureed. FutureEd – A New Voice for American Education. Retrieved 29 November 2022, from https://www.future-ed.org/reversing-the-decline-in-student-motivation/#:~:text=Motivation%20is%20not%20only%20important,classes%20and%20on%20standardized%20tests.

Jansen, D. (2022, September 30). What is thematic analysis? simple definition + examples. Grad Coach. Retrieved 30 November 2022, from https://gradcoach.com/what-is-thematic-analysis/.

Javadi, M., & Zarea, K. (2016). Understanding thematic analysis and its pitfall. Journal of Client Care, 1(1), 34-40. https://doi.org/10.15412/j.jcc.02010107

Kawulich, B. B. (2005). Participant observation as a data collection method. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-6.2.466

Koundouno, T. (2019, May 25). Study: Learning English boosts personal growth, employment prospects. Retrieved 1 December 2022, from https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/05/274134/study-english-personal-growth-employment.

Kleinginna, P. R., & Kleinginna, A. M. (1981). A categorized list of motivation definitions, with a suggestion for a consensual definition. Motivation and Emotion, 5(3), 263-291. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00993889

Krashen, S. D., & Seliger, H. W. (1975). The essential contributions of formal instruction in adult second language learning. TESOL Quarterly, 9, 173-183.

Litchman, K. M. (2012) Child-adult differences in implicit and explicit second language learning (Publication No. 3600697) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Loewen, S., & Reinders, H. (2011) Key concepts in second language acquisition. Palgrave Macmillan.

Mahu, D.-P. (2012). Why is learning English so beneficial nowadays? International Journal of Communication, 2(4), 374-376.

Newport, E. L. (2019). Children and adults as language learners: Rules, variation, and maturational Change. Topics in Cognitive Science, 12(1), 153-169. https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12416

Nikolov, M. (2009). Early learning of modern foreign languages: Processes and outcomes. Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters.
Ngeow, K. Y. H. (1998). Motivation and transfer in language learning. ERIC Digest.

Slavin, R. E. (2014). Cooperative learning and academic achievement: Why does groupwork work? [Aprendizaje Cooperativo y Rendimiento Académico: ¿Por qué funciona el trabajo en grupo?]. Anales De Psicología, 30(3). https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.30.3.201201

Why is it important to learn English? (2020, February 15). ETS Global. Retrieved 22 February 2023, from https://www.etsglobal.org/pl/en/blog/news/importance-of-learning-english.

Pandey, M., & Pandey, P. K. (2014). Better English for better employment opportunities. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach and Studies, 01(4), 93-100.

Perera, N. (2022, January 2). Motivations for learning English as an adult. CELTA Trainer. Retrieved 29 November 2022, from https://www.celtatrainer.com/celta-topic-1/motivations-for-learning-english-as-an-adult/.

Pribram, K. H. (1971). Languages of the brain: Experimental paradoxes and principles in neuropsychology. Englewood Cliffs. Prentice-Hall.

Rehman, A., Bilal, H. A., Sheikh, A., Bibi, N., & Nawaz, A. (2014). The role of motivation in learning English language for Pakistani learners. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(1), 254-258.

Santrock J. (2004). Educational psychology. McGraw-Hill.

Shaikholeslami, R., & Khayyer, M. (2006). Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and learning English as a foreign language. Psychological Reports, 99(3), 813-818. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.99.3.813-818

Taylor, B. P. (1975). Adult language learning strategies and their pedagogical implications. TESOL Quarterly, 391-399.

Teherani, A., Martimianakis, T., Stenfors-Hayes, T., Wadhwa, A., & Varpio, L. (2015, December 1). Choosing a qualitative research approach. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 7(4), 669-670. https://doi.org/10.4300/jgme-d-15-00414.1

Wenden, A. L. (1981). The processes of self-directed learning: A case study of adult language learners. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.