Examining the Relationship between EFL Learners' Motivation Patterns and Cultural Attachments

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between EFL learners' motivational profile and their home cultural attachment. For this purpose, two questionnaires, Papi and Abdollahzadeh (2011) The Student Motivational State Questionnaire and Pishghadam, Hashemi and Bazri (2013) Cultural Attachment Scale, designed for the context of Iran, were distributed among two hundred EFL learners studying English in language institutes all over Iran. Various statistical analyses were conducted to examine the associations between the variables. The ideal self was strongly related to Western and artistic attachments; the ought self-demonstrated a strong relationship with Western attachment; and the linguistic self-confidence showed minimal correlation with cultural attachment. The results revealed significant gender differences in motivational profiles, with girls showing stronger alignment with ideal and ought-to selves, as well as higher levels of linguistic self-confidence and more positive attitudes toward learning English. Boys, on the other hand, exhibited slightly higher attachment to Western cultural influences, while girls showed stronger attachments to traditional, Iranian, and artistic dimensions. The results underscore the intricate relationship between cultural identity, motivational dynamics, and emotional reactions in language learning. These findings carry important implications for tailoring language teaching strategies to address gender-specific motivational drivers and cultural affinities, while also offering applications in designing more inclusive and personalized educational approaches that enhance engagement and outcomes for both boys and girls.