VietTESOL International Convention 2026

In the era of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), native-speakerist ideologies continue to undermine many Expanding Circle learners’ readiness to use English for authentic communication. This study examined whether acceptance of one’s own English variety functions as a critical psychological bridge between the Ideal L2 Self and willingness to communicate (WTC) in ELF settings. Drawing on the L2 Motivational Self System and Global Englishes scholarship, a partial mediation model was tested with survey data from 330 Vietnamese EFL undergraduates. Structural equation modelling using PLS-SEM revealed that the Ideal L2 Self significantly predicted both Vietnamese English Acceptance (β = .348, p < .001) and ELF-oriented WTC (β = .254, p < .001). Vietnamese English Acceptance, in turn, emerged as the strongest direct predictor of WTC (β = .395, p < .001) and partially mediated the relationship between Ideal L2 Self and WTC (indirect effect = .137, 95% CI [.094, .187]). The model explained 29.1% of the variance in ELF WTC and demonstrated strong predictive relevance. These findings extend L2 motivation theory by incorporating sociolinguistic attitude as a distinct mediator and highlight the necessity of fostering ownership of local English varieties. Pedagogically, the results underscore the value of Global Englishes-informed instruction in transforming learners’ ideal selves into confident ELF communicators.