Abstract
This research aims to investigate motivation that influences Chiang Mai University students’ decision to learn the Korean language. A questionnaire is conducted on the students’ motivation behind their decision to learn the Korean language and their expectations for Korean language learning after graduation. Respondents are 102 students studying Korean as elective courses or minor subjects. The results reveal that the type of motivation that has the highest influence over their Korean language learning is self-motivation, and they are also motivated by curriculum and institutes, the ‘Korean Wave’ and the society, defined as social motivation, respectively. Their highest post-graduation expectation for Korean language learning is the ability to converse fluently with Korean people, while the ability to understand Korean songs/dramas/variety programs, the ability to understand Korean society and culture, the ability to get a job using the Korean language, the opportunity to study in South Korea and the opportunity to have new friends are the next highest expectations successively.
Highlights
Thailand and South Korea have a long history in relationship
The results reveal that the most motivation affecting Korean language learning is self-motivation; the most expectation after graduation from institutes is the ability to understand Korean songs/series/variety programs; gender affects Korean wave motivation to learn Korean language; age affects self-motivation and social motivation to learn Korean language; level of education affects self-motivation, social motivation, and motivation from institutes to learn Korean language
Questions under the first topic were based on Gardner and Lambert’s (1972) theory of motivation and revised from Chinakun’s (1975) questionnaire, in which motivation were categorized into four types, namely self-motivation, social motivation, motivation from popular trends, and motivation from curriculum and academic institutes
Summary
Thailand and South Korea have a long history in relationship. They have become closer and grown more mutual cooperations. Thai Government has welcomed more and more Korean businesses and investment in such areas as restaurants and technology-related industrial enterprises. The Korean language as an essential tool in bilateral communication in all aspects, ranging from tourism, medical cooperation, commerce, cultural exchanges, has become increasingly popular and significant among Thais. A number of Thai students interested in learning Korean language and culture has been growing larger within a few decades. While the aforementioned factors might contribute to an increase in the number of students learning Korean, I believe that there is still a need for further studies on students’ motivation to learn Korean
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