What Makes Good Language Learners?

Abstract

This study attempted to reveal Japanese EFL learners’ motivational profiles through cluster analysis and to examine how these profiles were interrelated with communication variables. This approach made it possible to offer a clearer picture of so-called good language learners from the perspectives of motivation to learn and willingness to use the target language. The results of the cluster analysis identified four distinct groups of learners. Among them, two groups exhibited lower motivational and communication variables, which is not surprising in EFL learning contexts where English is not necessary for future living. By contrast, the remaining two groups showed higher motivational and communication variables, but one group showed higher extrinsic motivation and the ought-to L2 self than the other. A novel finding of this study pertained to the coexistence of intrinsic motivation/ideal L2 self and extrinsic motivation/ought-to L2 self, which was once believed to conflict with each other.