Influences Of Motivation On The Three Stages Of Second Language Learning

The majority of present motivation studies chiefly focus on identifying possible sources governing L2 (second language) learners' motivations, proposing certain constructs or theories concerning L2 learners' motivation orientations, or examining motivational influences on some aspects of L2 learning by using certain motivation theories. These studies have made great contributions in acquainting L2 teachers with the nature, roles of motivation and the various source factors affecting learners' motivation.However, few of them have investigated the consequence of motivation in different stages of L2 learning in relation to certain L2 learning theories. To make up this lack, this thesis employs the information processing model, which divides L2 learning process into input stage, central processing stage and output stage, as a learning theory and investigates motivational influences on the three stages of L2 learning.Considering the fact that motivation affects L2 learning indirectly and mainly by adjusting the cognitive, meta-cognitive strategies involved in the learning process, this thesis decides to study motivational influences on L2 learning process by examining its effects on learners' strategy use in different stages of L2 learning. It is proposed in the thesis that L2 learning strategies can be classified as input noticing strategies, central processing strategies and output strategies according to the stages of L2 learning proposed in the information processing theory. But in this thesis, the correlations between learners' motivation and their use of the three kinds of strategies are not examined directly but by induction because of the fact that uses of L2 learning strategies are variable in accordance with learners, settings and learning tasks. This thesis tries to induce these correlations by using data from three available studies concerning different L2 learners' motivation orientations and their uses of the general L2 learning strategies, the particular L2 learning strategies like listening strategies, reading strategies in different context.Following findings concerning the motivational influences on the input noticing stage, central processing stage, and output stage of L2 learning have been achieved: a. Second language learners' motivation is beneficial for their activation of the input noticing strategies b. Second language learners' motivation is beneficial for their activation of central processing strategies c. Second language learners' motivation is beneficial for their activation of output strategies...