This study examined the types and levels of learning motivation among learners at private Korean language schools based on the six motivational regulations proposed in Self-Determination Theory, and compared them with learners at university-affiliated...
This study examined the types and levels of learning motivation among learners at private Korean language schools based on the six motivational regulations proposed in Self-Determination Theory, and compared them with learners at university-affiliated language institutes. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and ANCOVA. The results showed that learners at private Korean language schools demonstrated relatively high levels of identified and integrated regulation, while exhibiting lower levels of external regulation, introjected regulation, and intrinsic motivation than learners at university-affiliated language institutes. These findings suggest that although learners at private Korean language schools clearly recognize the value and necessity of learning Korean, this recognition does not fully translate into enjoyment or intrinsic engagement in the learning process. This study contributes to Korean language education by challenging university-centered perspectives in motivation research and emphasizing the importance of understanding learners’ motivational characteristics across diverse institutional settings.