https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8776-4078
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ABSTRACT
The instrumental motivations of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) have been examined in detail, but there is a lack of studies exploring how they compare to those of learners of other languages (LOTEs). To address this gap, this study draws on a questionnaire (N = 312) and on semi-structured interviews (n = 20) and focuses on university students of English studies in Italy and Germany and of Italian and German studies in Australia. The findings show that work-related motivations were generally more relevant to EFL learners, whose answers were mostly reflective of societal discourses on the role that English plays as a tool for social and professional mobility and of its necessity in the job market, but also held weigh for LOTE learners (and particularly learners of German), who often emphasised how proficiency in another language could represent an ‘exotic’ add-on skill that could make them stand out in the job market. The study also suggests that although the mastery of English still carries social capital, its widespread teaching will gradually make it a commonplace skill and, as a consequence, less popular languages may gain in instrumental appeal.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Note on authorship of the paper
Riccardo Amorati is an Applied Linguist and was responsible for the design of the study, for data collection, for the analysis of the qualitative data, as well as for the writing up of the paper.
Anna Quaglieri is a Statistician and provided statistical support for the description and analysis of the quantitative data presented in section 4.1.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.