The development of proficiency in a second language: the role of language status and learning context.

This research project aims to analyse and compare the diversity within the language acquisition patterns and the attitudinal and motivational patterns of L2 learners in four different language learning contexts. The independent variables in the study are language status and language learning context; the dependent variables are the levels of L2 proficiency and the attitudinal and motivational dispositions which the L2 learners develop.