A Psycho-Socio-Cultural Approach towards Technology-Assisted Language Teaching: Nonlinear Dynamic L2 Motivation Theory

Abstract

Overlooking the nonlinearity and dynamicity of the second language (L2) motivation and overlooking the emerging educational technologies available in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) environments that provide interactive access to the target L2 community are among the main limitations of the L2 Motivational Self-System (L2MSS) that justify the need to revisit it. The L2MSS narrows down a complex aspect of L2 learners to a limited list of Self types under a unidirectional theory without offering sufficient evidence on the contextualization of the basic components. Drawing on dynamic systems theory, this conceptual study introduces nonlinear dynamic L2 motivation theory (NDL2MT) as a comprehensive and multidimensional replacement. The NDL2MT integrates the emerging educational affordances present in CALL environments and converges the psycho-socio-cultural findings on L2 motivation into a multidimensional theory. The implications of the study for pedagogy, research, and assessment are discussed with regard to the nonlinearity and dynamicity of L2 motivation.