Exploring the L2 Motivational Self System in Spain: Study Design and Preliminary Findings

Abstract

This paper details the design and validation of a Motivational Factors Questionnaire (MFQ) used to explore the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) (Dörnyei 2009) of over 500 Spanish learners of English. The mixed methods Spanish study was a partial replica of Ryan (2009) in Japan and Taguchi, Magid and Papi (2009) in Asia. The final validated version of the MFQ we present here thus contains 67 items comprising 13 psychometric scales targeting the ideal L2 self, the ought L2 self, as well as a diverse range of goal-related and affective motivational variables. We were able to confirm that the ideal L2 self is a relevant construct for the sample although the ought L2 self emerged as having a negative relationship with L2 learning. The L2 learning experience was explored in this study from the perspective of past L2 learning in compulsory education and we ascertained somewhat negative opinions in this regard.