The Language of the Future: The Motivation of Adults in Malta to Study Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62695/TDIE4900Keywords:
Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, non-native teachers of Chinese, Adult education, Foreign language teachingAbstract
China’s economic growth and opening up to the western world have led many people in the West to study Mandarin Chinese as a second or as an additional foreign language. Due to the rise of China, many people in the West are seeking to learn Mandarin Chinese in order to be able to communicate better with the endless opportunities that such a great culture and economy bring with it. As Hu Jintao said in his address to the Australian Parliament on the 24th of October 2003: ‘The Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world’, suggesting that the Chinese actually welcome foreigners to learn their language and culture. In fact, many adults in the Western world are choosing to learn Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language for a number of different reasons, among which to improve their future career prospects. The current study aims to find out what motivates adult learners to choose to attend courses in basic Mandarin Chinese language and culture in Malta.
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