Senior adult learners’ second language motivation in a Chinese context: A first look

With the aging trend of global population, senior adult learners have been observed more frequently in second language (L2) classes. However, this demographic has been underrepresented in L2 empirical research. This study addresses this limitation by examining the language learning motivation of senior adult learners of English as a foreign language. Fifteen senior Chinese adult learners with an average age of 61.2 participated in semi-structured interviews where they answered questions on reasons for their decisions to learn English and factors that impacted their sustained efforts to learn the L2. The results demonstrated that these learners’ L2 motivation was influenced by instrumental needs, personal satisfaction, others’ opinions, and learning experiences. Specific motives under these categories are unique to this population, such as travelling, living a richer life, maintaining cognitive ability, building family bond, integrating with younger generations, engaging in modern society, personal fulfilment, and previous experiences. These motives are fundamentally different from those of young academic learners, who have been the predominant focus of current motivation research. This study contributes to the field by advancing L2 motivation research and affording empirical evidence informing stakeholders of ways to enhance the wellbeing of senior citizens. It is also hoped that the study will inspire more research on senior L2 learners and other under-researched populations.