Language learning motivation in multilingual CLIL

Abstract

Motivation has long been acknowledged as an undeniably important factor in language learning, and recent research indicates that it may play an even more important role in CLIL than non-CLIL settings (Navarro Pablo & García Jiménez, 2018). However, given the lack of research into CLIL in languages other than English, Dalton-Puffer, Nikula and Smit (2010) have called for a comparison across additional languages, so as to determine the strengths and weaknesses of CLIL language-independently. This comparison is particularly necessary with respect to L2 motivation, given that the spread of English as a global language has led to qualitative differences between learning English compared with other languages (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2013). The current study thus investigates the language learning motivation of students taking both English and French CLIL classes to determine if there are quantitative differences between the participants’ English and French language learning motivation. Results indicate that the participants exhibited a higher level of language learning motivation towards English than French. The findings highlight the need to better prepare CLIL methodologies when languages such as French are taught alongside English.