The Use of Persuasive Discourse on X Platform and Its Effects on University Undergraduates Motivations and Attitudes to Learn Chinese

Authors

  • Rasha K. Ali

    English Department, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 25753, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.10594
Received: 20 June 2025 | Revised: 10 October 2025 | Accepted: 21 October 2025 | Published Online: 21 November 2025

Abstract

In early 2020, the Saudi Ministry of Education introduced Chinese as a foreign language (CHL) in selected high schools and universities across major cities such as Jeddah and Riyadh. Implemented in ten schools and three universities, this initiative marked the first stage of a national strategy to expand Chinese instruction across the Kingdom by 2030. The policy highlights Saudi Arabia's growing diplomatic and economic partnership with China, particularly after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 2019 visit to Beijing, where language learning was emphasized as a tool for strategic cooperation. This study examines the motivations—instrumental, integrative, or personal—driving Saudi undergraduates to learn Chinese, their attitudes toward the language, and the influence of persuasive discourse on the X platform. Specifically, it explores how mechanisms such as repetition, lexical choice, and reasoning affect learners' motivation and perceptions.Using a triangulation mixed-methods approach, data will be collected from 100 randomly selected first-year female students majoring in Chinese at Princess Noura University. The study aims to determine whether cultural, personal, or social media factors shape motivation. Preliminary findings suggest students view Chinese mainly as beneficial for business and national development, indicating an instrumental orientation reinforced by persuasive discourse. Some limitations were encountered, including participant numbers and academic obligations, which constrained availability for interviews.

Keywords:

Persuasive Discourse; L2; Motivation; Attitude; Language Learning; Mixed-Methods; Persuasive Online Discourse

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How to Cite

K. Ali, R. (2025). The Use of Persuasive Discourse on X Platform and Its Effects on University Undergraduates Motivations and Attitudes to Learn Chinese. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(12), 1517–1530. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.10594

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 12 (December 2025): In progress

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Copyright © 2025 Rasha K. Ali

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.