Research on Autonomous Learning of Chinese as a Second Language through Content Analysis of the Social Q&A Website Quora

Social question-and-answer (Q&A) websites offer an interactive platform that extends to a broad and diverse array of learners, facilitating Q&A sessions and promoting learning. This study collected data and conducted a qualitative analysis of posts related to CSL learning methods on the social Q&A platform Quora. By striving to comprehensively and authentically capture the subjective viewpoints and learning journeys of international learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL), this study offered approaches and materials that could be readily embraced by autonomous learners beyond the traditional classroom setting. Moreover, it served as a catalyst for educational institutions and educators to deepen their understanding of their learners and develop more impactful instructional strategies.