The present study aims to develop a model illuminating the relationship between student personality traits and motivation towards learning Mandarin as a foreign language. A model framework consisting of five exogenous variables and one endogenous variable of motivation are examined in the present study. Sample of 260 undergraduates taking Mandarin language at public university in East Malaysia was used as respondents for the present work. The path analysis revealed that the big five personality traits significantly influence and explained 52% of the variance in students' motivation. The analysis further indicates that extraversion and conscientiousness produce the strongest correlation with students' motivation. The results inferred that students who enjoy social visibility and self-discipline are also who will be motivated to learn the Mandarin language. Findings also demonstrated that agreeableness positively influence motivation, and neuroticism, as expected, produce negative direct relations with motivation towards learning Mandarin as a foreign language. On the contrary, the present study did not find any correlation between openness and motivation. The implications of this study are also discussed and interpreted within the context of what educators could do to encourage students' motivation.   Keywords: Big five, Extraversion, Mandarin language, Neuroticism, Personality traits.

The current research on aphasia in Malaysia can be divided into two areas. One is carried out by research personnel of medical units while the other is

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the education practice in Malaysia. Online mode has become the new teaching and learning norm in Malaysia. This study applied the L2 language learning engagement to investigate the language engagement and motivation among the undergraduates in online language learning during the pandemic. The study was conducted in one of the local universities, the University of Malaysia Sabah as the research site. A survey by using questionnaire and interview session were administered to collect data for the study. The research sample of the study comprised of 42 respondents and five interviewees and they were the second-year undergraduates. The research findings of the study showed i) the synchronised online classroom learning is the main platform for the undergraduates to practise their listening skill; ii) all the undergraduates practised their speaking skill in language learning through online mode; iii) the reading material for the undergraduate students to practise their reading skill is related to the language lessons and preparation of course work and iv) the undergraduates write in the language they learnt when preparing for their course work and texting their language lecturers. The study also highlighted the telcos played the most importance role in making the online teaching and learning successful.

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