The Investigation Of Students’ Chinese Learning Motivation Of Ecuadorian Confucius Institute

Motivation is one of the key factors affecting the second language learning. The research of Chinese as a second language learning motivation began in 1990 s. After decades of development, it has made great achievements. However, there are few studies on Chinese learning motivation in Ecuador. In this paper, we use Dornyei’s three-dimensional motivation theory framework to investigate the students’ Chinese learning motivation of the Confucius Institute in Ecuador. The study found that:1. Language level. The students have two strong integrative motivations, as “I love the Chinese language” and “learning Chinese feel very happy”, and “get HSK or related certificates” is a very important instrumental motivation.2.Learners level. The students have a strong personal achievement needs, most students will continue to learn Chinese after they have reached their expected level.3.Learning situation. Students are very satisfied with the Chinese classroom, and learning Chinese have their own mind, interacting with Chinese teacher well, but they have poor self-learning ability.4.In several factors that affect the students’ learning motivation, “gender, class type, foreign language background” are not significantly affected to the students’ learning motivation, but “ work or not, degree, age, study in China or not” have a significant impact on the individual motivation.According to the investigation and the author’s teaching practice, this paper puts forward the strategies of stimulating the students’ learning motivation of Confucius Institute and promoting Chinese teaching in Ecuador.