Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain

Abstract Despite the theory that significant exposure to a language, such as that experienced while living abroad, is necessary for mastery levels of achievement (Muñoz, 2008), learners who achieve proficiency purely through instructed foreign language settings (FLL) do exist. This dissertation use...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jones, Christina
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2016
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35198/
_version_ 1848795026285395968
author Jones, Christina
author_facet Jones, Christina
author_sort Jones, Christina
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Abstract Despite the theory that significant exposure to a language, such as that experienced while living abroad, is necessary for mastery levels of achievement (Muñoz, 2008), learners who achieve proficiency purely through instructed foreign language settings (FLL) do exist. This dissertation used a mixed methods comparative case study design to explore successful adults learners enrolled in C2 level courses at a private language academy in southern Spain. A Complex Dynamic Systems perspective was taken in order to analyse connections between the biological, cognitive, psychological, behavioural and experiential variables that interact to influence their language development systems. I conclude that the success of these learners is related to the interaction between their experiences of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation and their use of agency, all of which may be further moderated by cognitive or personality factors. Implications for FLL settings are also discussed.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T19:25:32Z
format Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
id nottingham-35198
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T19:25:32Z
publishDate 2016
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-351982017-12-19T07:39:14Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35198/ Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain Jones, Christina Abstract Despite the theory that significant exposure to a language, such as that experienced while living abroad, is necessary for mastery levels of achievement (Muñoz, 2008), learners who achieve proficiency purely through instructed foreign language settings (FLL) do exist. This dissertation used a mixed methods comparative case study design to explore successful adults learners enrolled in C2 level courses at a private language academy in southern Spain. A Complex Dynamic Systems perspective was taken in order to analyse connections between the biological, cognitive, psychological, behavioural and experiential variables that interact to influence their language development systems. I conclude that the success of these learners is related to the interaction between their experiences of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation and their use of agency, all of which may be further moderated by cognitive or personality factors. Implications for FLL settings are also discussed. 2016-07 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35198/1/Jones_Christina_Dissertation_Smith.pdf Jones, Christina (2016) Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]
spellingShingle Jones, Christina
Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title_full Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title_fullStr Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title_full_unstemmed Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title_short Successful Language Learners in an EFL context: an exploratory study of C2 level learners in an English language school in southern Spain
title_sort successful language learners in an efl context: an exploratory study of c2 level learners in an english language school in southern spain
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35198/