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17 - Motivation

from Part IV - Social Aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2025

By
Richard Pinner
Edited by
Glenn Stockwell  and
Yijen Wang
Glenn Stockwell
Affiliation:
Waseda University, Japan
Yijen Wang
Affiliation:
Waseda University, Japan
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Summary

The issue of whether technology is inherently motivating for learners and teachers has often been discussed in the literature around computers and language learning. Yet, there is more to this relationship than initially meets the eye. This chapter outlines the ways in which symbolic power plays a part in both personal and institutional motivations for the adoption of technology. The chapter also looks at the way motivation is often credited as a key to success, though rarely with much empirical evidence. Finally, the article takes on a practitioner’s viewpoint to share several motivational techniques that can assist with practice and research.

Keywords

motivationauthenticitycomplexityautonomyaffordancessymbolic power
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Technology in Language Teaching and Learning , pp. 281 - 296
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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Further Reading

In this book, the editors and chapter authors look at how CALL will become more effective by moving toward a “Smart” model of the learning environment, which utilizes the interconnectedness of digital devices and their ability to share data and information across platforms in a streamlined manner. The volume emphasizes the importance of personalization, contextualization, and socialization, which are linked to motivating factors.

This book provides an accessible, thorough, and yet concise overview of the current field of motivation in relation to language teaching and research. It is very practical and yet misses none of the most important history nor current thought on language learning motivation. A must-have for anyone interested in the subject.

A short but extremely thorough chapter outlining the principle concerns of motivation and technology in language teaching. The book examines many of the principles that currently influence technology implementation and that provided much of the starting ground for this current chapter.

Colpaert, J., & Stockwell, G. (2022). Smart CALL: Personalization, contextualization and socialization. Castledown.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (2021). Teaching and researching: Motivation (3rd ed.). Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henry, A., & Lamb, M. (2020). L2 motivation and digital technologies. In Lamb, M., Csizér, K., Henry, A., & Ryan, S. (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of motivation for language learning (pp. 599–619). Palgrave.Google Scholar

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  • Motivation
  • Edited by Glenn Stockwell, Waseda University, Japan, Yijen Wang, Waseda University, Japan
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Technology in Language Teaching and Learning
  • Online publication: 15 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009294850.021
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  • Motivation
  • Edited by Glenn Stockwell, Waseda University, Japan, Yijen Wang, Waseda University, Japan
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Technology in Language Teaching and Learning
  • Online publication: 15 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009294850.021
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Motivation
  • Edited by Glenn Stockwell, Waseda University, Japan, Yijen Wang, Waseda University, Japan
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Technology in Language Teaching and Learning
  • Online publication: 15 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009294850.021
Available formats
×