Chinese Students’ Goal Orientation in English Learning: A Study Based on Autonomous Inquiry Model

Goal orientation is a kind of theory of learning motivation, which helps learners to develop their capability by emphasis on new techniques acquiring and environment adapting. In this study, based on the autonomous inquiry model, the construction of Chinese students’ goal orientations in English learning are summarized according to the data analysis. Besides, the relationship between learning goal orientations and language instruction is explored in the English as Foreign Language environment. The results indicate that in the autonomous inquiry model, the performance of English language teaching can be improved significantly; moreover, in China, most learners have performance goals; in contrast with mastery goals, performance goals enhance the teaching performance definitely.