In the field of social psychology and education, considerable research has long recognised the critical role that motivation plays in determining L2 achievement (Gardner, 1985; Ellis, 1994; Dornyei, 2001). Thus, Gardner (2006) asserts that “students with higher levels of motivation will do better than students with lower levels” (p. 241). In fact, Gardner and Lambert (1972) explain that motivational factors may override language aptitude. The relevance of motivation in L2 learning is also highlighted by Dornyei (1988) who explains that motivation provides the necessary impetus to initiate L2 learning in the first place, functioning later as a driving force to sustain “the long