Age‐related differences in motivation in learning English among Mainland Chinese students

Despite the fact that the majority of E nglish learners in C hina are children, much of what is known about E nglish learners in C hina is restricted to studies of high school and adult populations. Learning E nglish is an experience that spans many years for C hinese students, yet little is known about how or if motivations change across age groups. The limited amount of research which does explore age‐related differences has been restricted to E uropean populations. This study provides findings from a survey of 1,213 school‐age students, grades 1 to 11 in M ainland C hina. Findings demonstrated significant differences in motivation separating middle school from their elementary and high school peers. Suggestions for future research and classroom instruction are given.