This study analyzes the beliefs surrounding Japanese language learners whose learning has stagnated after two years. We used the five categories of BALLI—“Foreign language aptitude,” “The motivations of learning,” “The nature of language learning,” “The factors affecting learning,” and “Desirable teaching method and classroom activities”—and compared the results with those from advanced learners. This study mainly found that stagnated learners are motivated because they hope to form a relationship with Japanese people and enjoy Japanese subcultures. However, they struggle to learn because the grammar and the Chinese characters in their mother language are different. Further, they prefer passive and teacher-led earning methods more than advanced learners.
