An Investigation of the Motivational Profiles of English Learners in a Japanese University

The Linguaculture Motivational Profiler (LMP) (Shaules, et al., 2020) is a survey instrument designed to investigate the motivational profiles of language learners using a series of Likert scale questions to measure motivational resistance, motivational engagement, and mixed states motivation. This paper describes the administration of the LMP at Sojo University in 2021, analyses the gathered data, and considers implications for both classroom practice and future research. The survey was conducted with students taking a compulsory English communication course at the start of academic year 2021-22. Results were then correlated by both the students’ department and English class tier as defined by a previously administered placement test. Initial data analysis showed that the surveyed students consistently score higher in both mixed states and engagement than in resistance across all departments and levels. However, in most cases there was no direct relationship between students’ academic majors and their motivational profile as determined by the LMP. There was some evidence of an association between motivation and class tier, but the correlation was rather weak and did not hold for all classes. This suggests that educators should be wary of assumptions about learners’ motivational profiles based purely on proficiency