Studying Chinese as a foreign language: Learner attitudes and language learning

This study examined students’ attitudes and motivation toward Chinese language learning in the International Baccalaureate Mandarin program at a high school in Brisbane Australia in 2008. The focus of this study is to identify links between Chinese learning and students’ attitudes and motivations. Sixty students were administered an attitude and motivation survey at the beginning and end of a semester. Changes in attitudes and motivation were observed. Amidst a complex pattern of change, it was clear that English L1 and Beginners, showed a positive correlation between language study and improved attitudes and motivation while two groups (i.e., Other L1 and Advanced learners) did not. The result challenges the conventional assumption that language learning brings about positive attitude towards the target language and culture. It also shows that the students’ background and target language level have an impact on their attitudes towards target language learning.