Will learning a foreign language help me excel in my future career? : A meta-analysis of publications on the motivation in Japanese and American students to study a foreign language

Abstract: This meta-analysis will investigate and compare existing research material on how Japanese and American high school students studying a foreign language are motivated by a belief that studying a foreign language will increase their future career opportunities. Reference material by appropriately versed authors will be used for this purpose. The concepts of attitude and motivation will be discussed together with the social context surrounding students from the two nations, such as the countries’ historical backgrounds and past and present educational circumstances. The reviewed literature revealed that there have been various reasons for reluctance in both countries to teaching foreign languages in school; however, more recent research points towards a transition and, particularly in the case of the United States, a new understanding is taking shape in regards to the need also for native English speakers to learn foreign languages.