This research aimed to investigate the direct effect, the indirect effect, and the total effect of past English learning experience on intended effort through the mediation of the actual L2 self and the ideal L2 self. The data were collected by surveying 553 university students in Korea who took English as part of their general education by using questionnaires, and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The result of data analysis showed that the indirect effect (ß=.307, p<.01) and the total effect (ß=.343, p<.001) of past experience on effort through the actual L2 self and ideal L2 self were statistically significant. The main cause for this was that the direct effect of past English learning experience on the actual L2 self (ß=.663, p<.001) and ideal L2 self (ß=.805, p<.001) were significant. However, it should be noted that the direct effect of past experience on effort was statistically insignificant (ß=.036, p=.832). Based on these findings, theoretical and educational implications for English learning, teaching, and research methods were presented, followed by future research areas of interest.