Motivation to Study English Among Chinese Visiting Scholars

Lucy K Spence,Haiying Wang,Xumei Fan

doi:10.11648/j.ijecs.20210603.11

Abstract

Self Determination Theory (SDT) offers a multifaceted perspective of human motivation to foresee specific behavioral outcomes. It affords an understanding of human motivation. However, most researches on motivation have been applied to educational contexts of school-aged groups and graduate students in tertiary education. Little motivational research has explored Chinese visiting scholars in the context of adult education. In the study reported here, a questionnaire is designed to measure the relationship between different demographic variables and motivation types and the reasons behind those motivations in the context of the target language, English. The purpose of this study is to provide an empirical foundation concerning Chinese visiting scholars’ various study motivations after they obtained language qualification and a solid language base in China. The results indicate that respondents are motivated by an autonomous level of self-determination due to a desire to communicate in English with their colleagues and within their field of study. Some respondents are also motivated by social and cultural considerations.

Highlights

With the rapid development of the economy, science and technology in China, more and more Chinese visiting scholars have been sent to western countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, among others, for scholarly visits [1]
The present study examines Chinese visiting scholars’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels and degree that undergird their reasons for learning oral English
The second part consisted of two open-ended questions dealing with the reasons and the results of attending extra-curricular oral English study

Summary

Introduction

With the rapid development of the economy, science and technology in China, more and more Chinese visiting scholars have been sent to western countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, among others, for scholarly visits [1] This trend reflects a growing internationalism in advanced education worldwide. As an important element of international knowledge in a time of globalization, mainly consist of professors and researchers. They are carriers of knowledge across borders and the embodiment of a cosmopolitan scientific culture [2]. From a micro-perspective, it strengthens Chinese visiting scholars’ confidence in sharpening their

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Conclusion