The Palgrave Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning

Review “In no area of learning is motivation more important than in language acquisition.  The chapters of this book address both the basics and the nuances of motivational dynamics, focusing on the roles of student, teacher, and culture in understanding what helps people travel the long road to fluency in a second language. This collection represents an essential resource for anyone studying or practising in this area”(Richard Ryan, Professor, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Australia, and Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation.)“This invaluable and comprehensive compendium reflects the intellectual vitality that currently characterizes the field of language motivation research, while happily also laying the groundwork for future research. Motivation is a truly important topic in language learning; we simply must understand it better. And this handbook will certainly facilitate our doing so.”(Diane Larsen-Freeman, Professor Emerita of Education and of Linguistics, University of Michigan, USA)“This masterful collection takes readers on an untrodden journey through the field of motivation to learn languages. Seminal authors representing diverse thinking explore connections between theory and practice, rigour and ethics, history of ideas and future aspirations, all along traversing motivation in individuals, contexts, and systems. A book to treasure!” (Lourdes Ortega, Professor of Applied Linguistics, Georgetown University, USA.) Product Description This handbook offers an authoritative, one-stop reference work for the dynamic and expanding field of language learning motivation. The 32 chapters have been specially commissioned from the field’s most influential researchers and writers. Together they present a compelling picture of the motivations people have for learning languages, the diverse ways we can research motivation, and the implications for promoting and sustaining learners’ motivation. The first section outlines the main theoretical approaches to language learning motivation; the next section presents ways in which motivation theory has been applied in practice; the third section showcases examples of motivation research in particular contexts and with particular types of language learners; and the final section describes the exciting directions that contemporary research is taking, promising important new insights for academics and practitioners alike.  Review “The combination of theory and practice in this volume contributes to expanding its readership. Experts as well as novice researchers of L2 motivation will benefit from this arrangement, as the former have a deep understanding of L2 motivation but can learn about new areas, and the latter can attain insight on the topic. As a comprehensive and practical conclusion of current L2 motivation research, this volume will guide researchers to further probe into L2 motivation.” (Lixiang Gao & Honggang Liu, Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada, Vol. 34 (2), 2021) From the Back Cover This handbook offers an authoritative, one-stop reference work for the dynamic and expanding field of language learning motivation. The 32 chapters have been specially commissioned from the field’s most influential researchers and writers. Together they present a compelling picture of the motivations people have for learning languages, the diverse ways we can research motivation, and the implications for promoting and sustaining learners’ motivation. The first section outlines the main theoretical approaches to language learning motivation; the next section presents ways in which motivation theory has been applied in practice; the third section showcases examples of motivation research in particular contexts and with particular types of language learners; and the final section describes the exciting directions that contemporary research is taking, promising important new insights for academics