The road to Mandarin at ANU: Capitalising on what students bring with them on the journey

Abstract

This study draws on the results of a study of students at the Australian National University (ANU) who were learning Mandarin Chinese at second year level and above in 2012. Through analysis of 85 questionnaires and 11 follow-up interviews, we look at the year level at which students enter the ANU program, their language and cultural backgrounds and the diversity of proficiency levels and language skills within Mandarin classes. Our study then explores what students say about their language learning experiences and the range of proficiency levels in Mandarin they have encountered in their classes. Finally, we consider the value of this type of data and how it can be used in program planning to engage students, maximise learning outcomes and improve retention rates. Show more