An Investigation of Motivation in Children’s
Foreign Language Learning Process — A Case
Study on the Basis of Needs Analysis
Na Wei
School of Foreign Languages, China West Normal University, China
Abstract—Affective elements in foreign language teaching area involve motivation, anxiety, self-confidence,
self-image, inhibition, empathy, etc., all of which lead to differential success among second language learners.
However, among all of them, motivation is often recognized as the first major factor. This article makes an
investigation of children’s learning motivation on the basis of Needs Analysis and the primary objective of this
research is to find how the five needs (according to Maslow) are satisfied in child language learning process
and how to stimulate and maintain their motivation to learn through needs satisfaction.