خلاصة:
The present exploratory study aimed to provide a more tangible and comprehensive picture of the construct of investment in language learning through investigating the issue from a quantitative perspective. To this end, the researchers followed three main phases: First, a hypothesized model of investment in language learning with six components was developed for the Iranian learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) based on the extensive readings of the literature on investment, consultations with a panel of experts, that is three university professors in the relevant fields, and interviews with 20 language learners. Second, a questionnaire was developed and validated based on the proposed model to represent its components. Finally, the data collected through this questionnaire were fed into the model to determine the extent to which the model fitted the data. The participants were male and female English language learners belonging to different age groups and English language proficiency levels. The initial results showed poor values; however, the model was trimmed by removing one item from the questionnaire, and final statistical indices showed that the model fitted the data.
The present exploratory study aimed to provide a more tangible and comprehensive picture of the construct of investment in language learning through investigating the issue from a quantitative perspective. To this end, the present researchers followed three main phases. First, a hypothesized model of investment in language learning with six components was developed for the Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners based on the extensive readings of the literature on investment, consultations with a panel of experts, three university professors in the relevant fields, and interviews with 20 language learners. Second, a questionnaire was developed and validated based on the proposed model to represent its components. Finally, the data collected through this questionnaire were fed into the model to see to what extent the model fitted the data. The participants were male and female English language learners belonging to different age groups and English language proficiency levels.The initial results showed poor values; however, the model was trimmed by removing one item from the questionnaire, and final statistical indices showed that the model fitted the data.
ملخص الجهاز:
To this end, the researchers followed three main phases: First, a hypothesized model of investment in language learning with six components was developed for the Iranian learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) based on the extensive readings of the literature on investment, consultations with a panel of experts, that is three university professors in the relevant fields, and interviews with 20 language learners.
Investment is a construct which is considered foundational in language education (Kramsch, 2013) and holds a significant place in applied linguistics since it demonstrates the socially and historically constructed relationship between language learner identity and learning commitment (Darvin & Norton, 2015).
In the 2015 model of investment (see Figure 1), Darvin and Norton drew on theoretical advances, which came into existence since the construct of investment was first developed two decades ago, and placed investment at the intersection of the three elements of identity, capital, and ideology, in order to give information on the ways in which structures of power work and provide a better understanding of the opportunities language learners have to practice agency (Darvin & Norton, 2018).
Developing such a model, which is followed by constructing a reliable and valid questionnaire, is useful to change the common qualitative approach to investment research and make it feasible to do large-scale surveys and provide consistent instruments to find general patterns (Gao et al.
After reviewing the literature and the theories informing the study iteratively, conducting interviews with 20 EFL learners, and consultations with the panel of experts, the researchers specified a number of components for investment in language learning in Iran.