Becoming Biliterate and Trilingual: A Survey on Motivation of Learning Different Languages at Secondary Two and Four in Hong Kong

"Becoming biliterate (in written Chinese and English) and trilingual (in spoken Cantonese, Putonghua and English)" is an educational goal in Hong Kong. This project examines Cantonese Chinese learners' motivations in learning English and Putonghua in addition to other Chinese dialects and foreign languages that they might be interested in. The study will address the following issues:the characteristics of learners' motivations in learning the two target languages/dialects and other second languages/dialects;gender variation in motivational dimensions, language choice and intended effort in each target language/dialect;year-level variation in motivational dimensions, language choice and intended effort in each target language/dialect;the relationship between motivation and language choice, and between motivation and intended effort for each target language/dialect; andthe extent to which selected stream, medium of instruction and geographical location of schools are modifying factors of language attitudes, language choice and intended effort.