Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement

Goals are central to understanding how students learn a second language. Much of the existing research on goals in the field of language learning has focused exclusively on achievement goals, particularly mastery and performance goals. However, exclusively focusing on achievement goals precludes lan...

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Main Authors: Jiajing Li, Norman B. Mendoza, Ronnel B. King
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań 2025-06-01
Series:Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/ssllt/article/view/48242
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author Jiajing Li
Norman B. Mendoza
Ronnel B. King
author_facet Jiajing Li
Norman B. Mendoza
Ronnel B. King
author_sort Jiajing Li
collection DOAJ
description Goals are central to understanding how students learn a second language. Much of the existing research on goals in the field of language learning has focused exclusively on achievement goals, particularly mastery and performance goals. However, exclusively focusing on achievement goals precludes language researchers from exploring other important types of goals such as work avoidance, social, and personal best goals. Furthermore, other key theoretical perspectives, such as goal content, goal-setting, and goal-complex approaches, are neglected in second language learning research. Hence, the paper aims to: (1) introduce second language researchers to other goal perspectives that might be useful to understanding language learning, such as achievement goal, goal content, goal-setting, and goal complex approaches, (2) provide theoretical insights into how different goal theories can advance language learning research and (3) offer practical implications for language researchers and teachers on how to harness goal-related insights, ideas, and models to improve students’ language learning.
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spelling doaj-art-de24d44304154c9b835a66abaead4dc62025-08-20T03:34:33ZengAdam Mickiewicz University in PoznańStudies in Second Language Learning and Teaching2083-52052084-19652025-06-0115232534810.14746/ssllt.4824278205Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievementJiajing Li0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3810-9277Norman B. Mendoza1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0344-0709Ronnel B. King2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1723-1748Beijing Normal University Education University of Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong Goals are central to understanding how students learn a second language. Much of the existing research on goals in the field of language learning has focused exclusively on achievement goals, particularly mastery and performance goals. However, exclusively focusing on achievement goals precludes language researchers from exploring other important types of goals such as work avoidance, social, and personal best goals. Furthermore, other key theoretical perspectives, such as goal content, goal-setting, and goal-complex approaches, are neglected in second language learning research. Hence, the paper aims to: (1) introduce second language researchers to other goal perspectives that might be useful to understanding language learning, such as achievement goal, goal content, goal-setting, and goal complex approaches, (2) provide theoretical insights into how different goal theories can advance language learning research and (3) offer practical implications for language researchers and teachers on how to harness goal-related insights, ideas, and models to improve students’ language learning.https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/ssllt/article/view/48242goalslanguage learninggoal-setting theoryachievement goal theorygoal content theory
spellingShingle Jiajing Li
Norman B. Mendoza
Ronnel B. King
Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching
goals
language learning
goal-setting theory
achievement goal theory
goal content theory
title Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
title_full Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
title_fullStr Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
title_full_unstemmed Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
title_short Beyond achievement goals: How different goals drive second language learning and achievement
title_sort beyond achievement goals how different goals drive second language learning and achievement
topic goals
language learning
goal-setting theory
achievement goal theory
goal content theory
url https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/ssllt/article/view/48242
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AT ronnelbking beyondachievementgoalshowdifferentgoalsdrivesecondlanguagelearningandachievement