The Effect of a Visionary Motivational Program on Learners' Ideal L2 Self

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a visionary motivational program on learners’ Ideal L2. The study was conducted in the academic year of 2017-2018 at a state university, Central Anatolia, Turkey. 59 female and male Turkish EFL learners formed an experimental and a control group. While the experimental group attended a visionary motivational program, the control group attended a general program. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and an open-ended questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed by using a statistical analysis program and the findings were shown in tables and interpreted afterwards. Qualitative data were analyzed using the grounded theory and the constant comparative method. The findings were listed narratively and supported with the direct quotations from the data. The results showed that the Ideal L2 self of both groups increased, but the difference between them was not at a statistically significant level. The overall comparison of the quantitative data did not yield any significant difference between the experimental and the control group in nine domains. However, only in the domain of English anxiety, the control group had a significantly lower level of anxiety after the program. The results from the qualitative data, on the other hand, revealed that both groups found their programs effective and motivating for different reasons such as feeling an increase in their self-confidence, setting broader and concrete goals, understanding the crucial role of English and getting to know themselves.