Exploring the motivation of the older Chinese people learning English in China: A case study in a senior college in Guangdong

Abstract

ABSTRACT There has been a new fad rising in English learning among older Chinese people. By making their motivations clear, we can figure out ways to assist and facilitate their learning. The purpose of this study is to explore the motivations and objectives based on the Self-Determined Theory. To obtain comprehensive data for the study, classroom-observation was organized in six classes, as well as individual semi-structured interviews conducted with nine participants—including six student learners and two teachers. Results revealed that the older English learners in the senior college have strong intrinsic motivations, while extrinsic motivation, external and introjected regulations have no apparent influence. Moreover, the learners and the teachers share consistent objectives: tourism-oriented English, which helps to sustain learners’ intrinsic motivations and promote learning performance. However, motivational teaching techniques were not observed obviously in the study. In conclusion, the data indicates that the older learners are self-motivated in the English classroom and the consistent teaching and learning objectives contributes to the learners’ learning motivation. Motivational teaching methods are suggested to be applied in English classrooms.