Pathways to Mastery of East Asian Languages: Case of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Self-Directed Learners

The research aims to explore the journey through which learners of East Asian Languages, i.e., Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, learn the languages independently. Specifically, it investigates the motivations that drive their learning, the materials from which they source the learning, and the techniques they utilize to improve different language skills. The participants were comprised of two learners of Japanese, two learners of Korean, and two of Chinese, all of whom were students aged 19 to 21 years old. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, along with observations on their use of learning media. Findings revealed that cultural interest and career aspirations were their primary motivations, except for Chinese learners, whose heritage as Chinese descendants played a significant role in the motivation. Diverse learning resources were utilized, with platforms like Duolingo popular for learners at the initial stages, while authentic materials such as YouTube and social media proved effective for more advanced learning. Participants employed various strategies for their language skill development, often integrating listening, reading, and speaking. Authentic materials across different media, such as videos, songs, social media platforms, or comics, were widely favored for their contextual learning opportunities. These results suggest that language educators can enhance learning by incorporating gamification, fostering social interaction, and utilizing authentic materials in their curriculum.