Descripción:
This small-scale research paper aims to shed additional light on L2 learning motivation. In particular, it looks into the connections between the EFL students¿ learning context and the socio-cultural influences within which it operates. The study was conducted in a language center which is part of a state university located in the Northeast part of Mexico. The participants are six students of an intermediate level EFL course. They are also engaged in undergraduate programs majoring in areas such as psychology, engineering, computer science, business, and education with specialty in ELT. Drawing on qualitative data derived from a focus group interview we argue that it is not a question of either the students'¿ learning context or the socio-cultural influences that determines L2 learning motivation, but a combination of the two. We found that the dominant conceptions of success in academic and professional Mexican contexts intermingle with the students' learning context in determining language learning motivation.