A Tale of Two Languages: Charting Chinese Parents' Beliefs about and Engagement with Chinese and English Language Learning

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Title: A Tale of Two Languages: Charting Chinese Parents' Beliefs about and Engagement with Chinese and English Language Learning
Language: English
Authors: Xing Liu (ORCID 0000-0003-0969-3483), Paolo Coluzzi (ORCID 0000-0003-4571-267X), Seong Lin Ding (ORCID 0000-0002-7258-3570)
Source: Current Issues in Language Planning. 2025 26(4):551-572.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Parents, Parent Attitudes, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Native Language, Chinese, Language Attitudes, Cultural Awareness, Self Concept, Preschool Children, COVID-19, Pandemics
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1080/14664208.2024.2425524
ISSN: 1466-4208
1747-7506
Abstract: This study investigates Chinese parental beliefs about and engagement with their children's Chinese and English language learning in Yinchuan, China, utilizing the theory of planned behaviour as an analytical framework and a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from 879 parents reveals a strong preference for Chinese language education based on its perceived utility, cultural identity, and socioeconomic returns, contrasting with an ambivalent stance towards English. Qualitative insights highlight the influences of nationalism, anti-Western sentiments, and the COVID-19 pandemic on parental attitudes. These findings underscore the dominance of top-down language policies and societal expectations in shaping parental choices, often leading to contradictions between expressed attitudes and realized engagement. Perceived behavioural control emerges as a critical factor, with parents navigating challenges such as resource limitations, policy instability, and the dynamics of child autonomy. This study offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of parental involvement and the factors shaping language learning priorities, thus contributing to the growing body of literature on language education in China. These findings can inform language education policies and practices, emphasizing the need for accessible home-based resources, cultural understanding, and open dialogue to support effective and equitable language learning outcomes for Chinese children.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1477677
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Label: Title
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  Data: A Tale of Two Languages: Charting Chinese Parents' Beliefs about and Engagement with Chinese and English Language Learning
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  Label: Language
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xing+Liu%22">Xing Liu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0969-3483">0000-0003-0969-3483</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paolo+Coluzzi%22">Paolo Coluzzi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4571-267X">0000-0003-4571-267X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seong+Lin+Ding%22">Seong Lin Ding</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7258-3570">0000-0002-7258-3570</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Current+Issues+in+Language+Planning%22"><i>Current Issues in Language Planning</i></searchLink>. 2025 26(4):551-572.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: N
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  Data: 22
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parents%22">Parents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Attitudes%22">Parent Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese%22">Chinese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Attitudes%22">Language Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Awareness%22">Cultural Awareness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/14664208.2024.2425524
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 1466-4208<br />1747-7506
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates Chinese parental beliefs about and engagement with their children's Chinese and English language learning in Yinchuan, China, utilizing the theory of planned behaviour as an analytical framework and a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from 879 parents reveals a strong preference for Chinese language education based on its perceived utility, cultural identity, and socioeconomic returns, contrasting with an ambivalent stance towards English. Qualitative insights highlight the influences of nationalism, anti-Western sentiments, and the COVID-19 pandemic on parental attitudes. These findings underscore the dominance of top-down language policies and societal expectations in shaping parental choices, often leading to contradictions between expressed attitudes and realized engagement. Perceived behavioural control emerges as a critical factor, with parents navigating challenges such as resource limitations, policy instability, and the dynamics of child autonomy. This study offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of parental involvement and the factors shaping language learning priorities, thus contributing to the growing body of literature on language education in China. These findings can inform language education policies and practices, emphasizing the need for accessible home-based resources, cultural understanding, and open dialogue to support effective and equitable language learning outcomes for Chinese children.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1477677
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1477677
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/14664208.2024.2425524
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 551
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Native Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chinese
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Tale of Two Languages: Charting Chinese Parents' Beliefs about and Engagement with Chinese and English Language Learning
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            NameFull: Xing Liu
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            NameFull: Paolo Coluzzi
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            NameFull: Seong Lin Ding
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