Pakistan and China share strong diplomatic ties, with a significant number of Pakistani students studying in China. This paper reports on a study exploring the motivational shifts of Pakistani students before and after their relocation to China for language learning. The study involved 16 students, who were asked to write reflective journals during their Chinese learning semester. Interviews were conducted in two rounds, before and after their arrival in China. The results revealed that the trip significantly enhanced participants' motivation, with this heightened motivation expected to continue. Participants reported that their study abroad experience led to shifts in motivation, influenced by both personal learning experiences and the new educational environment. Further, the interaction between their L2 self-concept (L2-SC) and L2 absolute-self (L2-AS) fostered motivational growth. The study highlights the importance of formal and informal learning settings and emphasizes the need for educational stakeholders to offer more communication opportunities and resources for international students to sustain motivation in learning Chinese.
*Corresponding author: zainulabideen@stu.xjtu.edu.cn
Copyright 2024 IJEASS
Article Views: 4
Article Downloads: 
