La motivación de los y las estudiantes de chino mandarín: el caso de tres países de América Latina

The main objective of this paper is to explore the motivations of Chinese language students at Confucius Institutes across various Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru. Motivation is a key determinant in foreign language (FL) acquisition, as the type of motivation a learner possesses directly influences their persistence and success in mastering the target language. This study adopts an exploratory and descriptive methodology, collecting and analyzing data through surveys conducted at Confucius Institutes in the three participating countries. Chinese language learners are driven by a complex interplay of motivational factors. While intrinsic motivation stemming from an interest in learning Mandarin and engaging with Chinese culture is predominant, extrinsic motivation, such as career and academic opportunities, also plays a significant role.