Date of Award
1-1-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Modern Languages
Department
Modern Languages
First Advisor
Tamara Warhol
Second Advisor
Maria Fionda
Third Advisor
Jimin Kahng
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
In response to increased levels of demotivation in anglophone students of modern foreignlanguages, this thesis attempted to discover potential underlying causes through the use of metaphor elicitation directed at tertiary learners in the United States of America. Students were asked to metaphorize both the language learning process and the role of the language teacher. Afterwards, a qualitative metaphor analysis revealed that participants were overwhelmingly positive in respect to the role of the language teacher, but more mixed in their metaphors regarding the language learning process, with high frequency words such as “work†and “skillâ€. Contrary to the literature, the role of the teacher was not seen as a factor affecting demotivation, but rather the unending and difficult nature of the work involved in learning a language. Teachers can counter these points of demotivation by introducing more process (vs. product) language instruction into their classroom as well as setting more numerous short-term (vs. long-term) goals and explicitly teaching remotivation strategies which opens critical lines of communication necessary for student and teacher success alike.
Recommended Citation
Sallah, Holly, "METAPHORS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING: DISCOVERING THE UNDERLYING FACTORS AFFECTING DEMOTIVATION IN ANGLOPHONE LEARNERS OF MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2274.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2274
Concentration/Emphasis
TESL