Beyond Global English: Motivation to Learn Languages in a Multicultural World: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

This special issue takes a critical look at a largely uncharted area of language learning motivation: the motivation to learn languages other than English (LOTEs) in an era of globalization and multilingualism. Most 21st‐century literature on motivation in second language acquisition has focused on the learning of English, whose dominant status as a global language has significantly shaped current conceptualizations of second language motivation in relation to notions of self and identity. In an effort to redress this balance, the articles in this special issue critically examine two key questions: (a) How far are current theoretical perspectives adequate to account for motivation to learn LOTEs? and (b) What impact does global English have on motivation to learn other second or foreign languages in a globalized yet multicultural and multilingual world? In examining these core questions across a range of sociopolitical and educational settings, this issue brings together broader sociological as well as individual–psychological perspectives on motivation to learn LOTEs.