Relevance of goal theories to language learning research

Abstract

As the need to acquire a second/foreign language has increased steadily, a growing body of research has investigated the role of motivation in language education. In this review, we focus on the goal construct, which plays a critical regulatory function in motivational processes. We provide an overview of the two most widely accepted goal theories in motivation literature, the goal-setting and achievement goal theories, and then introduce relevant empirical findings that demonstrate the applicability of these theories to language learning research. We also introduce general motivation theories with a significant bearing on the goal construct, including self-determination theory, future time perspective, and mindset theory. We end this review with the theoretical and practical implications of goal theories in language education and research. (c) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.