Attitudes, Motivation, and Beliefs of Online Foreign Language Learners Amidst the Pandemic

Abstract

Covid-19 pandemic was an event which undeniably changed the paradigm of language learning. Online language learning has emerged as a significant catalyst, shedding light on distinctive attitudes, motivations, and beliefs among learners. The aim of the present study was to explore how learners articulated their attitudes, motivations, and beliefs in this context. To achieve these objectives, two hundred thirteen respondents participated in the study, completing modified versions of the AMTB (Attitude/Motivation Test Battery) and BALLI (Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory) questionnaires. In addition, eight online language learners were engaged in one-on-one interviews. Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, while qualitative data were transcribed and examined using thematic analysis techniques as proposed by Auerbach & Silverstein (2003). Drawing upon the Complex Dynamic Theory by LarsenFreeman (2017), the study's findings revealed that foreign language learning during the Covid-19 pandemic constitutes a complex dynamic construct that is profoundly influenced by learners' attitudes, motivations, and beliefs. These findings align with prior research, suggesting that learners generally have positive attitudes toward language learning and the target language community, and they exhibit a high level of motivation in their pursuit of online language acquisition.