JHASS

Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.09.012

Motivational Orientations and the Future L2 Selves Among Chinese University Students Majoring in Hungarian: An Exploratory Study

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Hanying Cheng

Xi'an International Studies University, Xi'an 710128, Shaanxi, China.

*Corresponding author: Hanying Cheng

Published: September 17,2026

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the motivation of Chinese university students majoring in Hungarian. Questionnaire data were collected from 45 undergraduates at four Chinese universities. The analysis focuses on career-oriented instrumental orientation, integrative orientation, the Ideal L2 Self, and the Ought-to L2 Self. It also examines a narrower classroom-related dimension concerning students’ perceptions of the motivational value of classroom support and activities. The results show relatively high mean scores for both career-oriented instrumental and integrative orientations. The paired-samples test did not detect a statistically significant mean difference between them. The Ideal L2 Self received a higher mean score than the Ought-to L2 Self. The classroom-related measure also received a high mean score, indicating a positive overall evaluation of the motivational value of the selected classroom practices. These findings describe several aspects of motivation in this sample. The small sample limits wider conclusions. The findings should therefore be read as exploratory and should be tested in larger, longitudinal, and mixed-methods studies of less commonly taught languages.

Keywords

Language learning motivation; L2 Motivational Self System; classroom support; less commonly taught languages; foreign language education

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How to cite this paper

Motivational Orientations and the Future L2 Selves Among Chinese University Students Majoring in Hungarian: An Exploratory Study

How to cite this paper: Hanying Cheng. (2026) Motivational Orientations and the Future L2 Selves Among Chinese University Students Majoring in Hungarian: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 10(9), 1108-1115.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.09.012