A Study On Learners' Learning Motivation Of The Public Chinese Compulsory Courses In Mae Fah Luang University Of Thailand

This paper mainly adopts questionnaire surveys and observation interviews to explore the learning motivations,types,influencing factors and internal connections of learners of the public Chinese compulsory courses at Mae Fah Luang University.The research results show that: First,the learners of the public compulsory courses have a strong overall motivation.There is a large demand for learners to set up the Chinese compulsory courses in Thai universities.Second,the main types of learning motivation are integration,instrumental,learning context,self-confidence,achievement and subjective strategic effort.Among them,instrumental and learning context-based motivations dominate.Integration,self-confidence,achievement-needs,and subjective strategic motivation are weak.Third,the significant factors on learning motivation are: gender,grade,major,length of study and Chinese background.Experiences in Chinese have no significant impact.Fourth,the types of learning motivation are interrelated.Instrumental motivation is the most significant predictor of Chinese learning in the future.Self-confidence and achievement-need motivation don't predict future learning.Several suggestions for motivating Chinese learning are put forward based on the results mentioned above.This study provides accurate motivational data for overseas Chinese teachers.It benefits teachers to help students maintain and enhance their learning motivation effectively.It also promotes the development of public Chinese compulsory courses.Moreover,it provides a reference for Mae Fah Luang University in formulating Chinese teaching policies,curriculum settings and teachers allocation.The successful experience of Mae Fah Luang University in offering compulsory Chinese courses is bound to spread to Thailand and other universities all over the world.