Abstract

Why do Australian learners of Japanese stop studying Japanese? The study on which this paper is based, investigates the high attrition rate of Australian university learners of Japanese through both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with questionnaire and interview data, focusing on motivation and learner autonomy. However, this paper looks only at learner motivation, and from the point of view of continuation/discontinuation of formal study rather than language achievement. Motivation is also discussed in relation to proficiency and demographics, with analyses undertaken with SPSS 17. Further, the data is examined in the context of institutional and social constraints such as timetabling, pressure from parents and peers, and change in the perceived importance of Japan in the world.