A Comparative Study Of The Correlation Of Dai Middle School Students' Ethnic Identity And English Learning Motivation Between The Urban And Rural Area

Yunnan is a province of diversity in ethnic minority groups.Ethnic minority group is a special group,and their English learning may have their own characteristics.English learning motivation plays a vital role in middle school students' English learning.Based on the background,this thesis aims to explore Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation and to answer the following three key research questions: 1)What are the current situations of Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation in the urban and rural area respectively? 2)What are the relationships between Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation in the urban and rural area respectively? 3)What are the differences of the correlation between Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation in the urban and rural area? The quantitative research and qualitative research were used in this study.This study was conducted in Mangshi city of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and Wandian town in Changning county of Baoshan.Totally182 Dai middle school students were involved in this research.Main findings of the study can be concluded as follows:At first,Dai middle school students in the urban and rural area have strong ethnic identity and English learning motivation.Secondly,Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation in the urban and rural area have positive correlation.At last,there are differences in the aspect of ethnic identity between the urban and rural area,and Dai middle school students' ethnic identity in the urban area is stronger than that of the rural area.Dai students' English learning motivation in the urban area is stronger than that of the rural area.Dai students' instrumental motivation is high in two places.But Dai students' instrumental and integrative and intrinsic motivation in the urban area are higher than those in the other area.On the contrary,Dai students' extrinsic motivation in the rural area is stronger.The correlation between Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their Englishlearning motivation in the urban area is stronger than that of the rural area.This study is significant in that it discussed and analyzed the differences of the correlation between Dai middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation in the urban and rural area to some extent.The study is expected to provide data and lay a foundation for the future research about minority middle school students' ethnic identity and their English learning motivation.