Motivación y competitividad: Un estudio en el aula de japonés como lengua extranjera

Abstract

Motivation is indispensable for foreign language learning (Williams & Burden, 1997/1999). Some strategies are useful for a better motivation such as the use of interesting contents, challenges (Dörnyei, 2001) and audio-visual and ICT materials especially among our young students (Madrid, 2002). For those digital natives who see the world as if it was a videogame (Watson, 2013, p.104) competitive educational applications are motivating, because although there is a dark side, theoretically speaking, self-development-oriented competitiveness is positive (Fül.p, 2009) and it encourages the necessary motivation for the learning of foreign languages. Still, the authors find out that there are some students demotivated by the activities with competitive elements. Then, what does competitiveness mean to our students? Do educational applications with competitive mode motivate them? This research examines the effect of competitiveness with regard to motivation to learn Japanese as a foreign language at the university level. The results show the student’s orientation of competitiveness for self-development, the dislike towards competitiveness caused the stress in competitive environment and the appreciation for competitive activities at a group level.