An Investigation of the L2 Motivational Self System: The Relationship Between the Ideal L2 Self and the Acquisition of American English Slang by Saudi Female English Majors

Abstract

Recent motivational studies have focused on investigating and validating the L2 motivational self system. The present study aimed to extend the validation process by considering the ideal L2 self and its relationship with the acquisition of American English slang and with the participants’ university level. The study population comprised undergraduate English majors (n = 85) attending two different levels of English classes (level three and level seven) at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The study also sought to identify any correlations between the participants’ university level and their knowledge of American English slang as well as their ideal L2 self. The study followed a quantitative methodology involving two instruments: a questionnaire and an American English slang test. The analysis of the gathered data revealed high ideal L2 self levels among the participants. However, their scores for the English slang knowledge test were low, which revealed that the scores were not affected by the participants’ high ideal L2 self levels. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that the participants’ university level played no role in relation to their knowledge of American English slang or their image of their ideal L2 self. The results of this study have extended our understanding of English language majors’ slang knowledge, and of their ideal L2 self, in an FL context. Suggestions and recommendations for future research were introduced in relation to the findings of this study.