The L2 Motivational Self System
Despite the fact that learners' identities are thought to be shaped by foreign/second (L2) language learning, the emergence of self related issues in L2 motivation research is relatively recent. The aim of the present chapter is to summarize our knowledge about one particular self theory in relation to L2 learning motivation, that is, the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) (Dornyei, The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2005) and its components: the ideal L2 self, the ought to L2 self and L2 learning experience. I start by describing the emergence of the model and introducing empirical investigations about the verification of constructs pertaining to the model. Next, I present research that has been conducted on the model, paying special attention to the interdisciplinary nature of the relevant studies, to the concept of motivation as vision, and to contextual issues, multilingualism, and the model's potential links to dynamic systems theory. Finally, future research directions are suggested by taking into account the strength of the model and the shortcomings of previous research.