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

Despite the fact that the majority of English learners in China are children, much of what is known about English learners in China is restricted to studies of high school and adult populations. Learning English is an experience that spans many years for Chinese 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 European populations. This study provides findings from a survey of 1,213 school-age students, grades 1 to 11 in Mainland China. 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.