The purpose of this study is to understand international students' perceptions of the importance of learning Estonian language. Additionally, this study explores the reasons for that perception and identifies which motivational variables have strongest interaction with the perceived importance. Using descriptive analytical strategy and the Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID hereinafter) technique, this study reveals that the majority of respondents believe that learning Estonian language is important not only for friendship with native Estonian speakers, but also for meeting and conversing with a diverse range of people living in Estonia, for appreciating Estonian art and literature, and for future career/employment. Additionally, this study finds that the most significant motivational variable in comprehending the category of the perception of importance is the motive that learning Estonian would boost students' knowledge and education. By elucidating the importance for learning the Estonian language, this study contributes to the literature on international students' motivation to learn the host country's language, enriches academic discourse in not only the language discipline, but also appeals to policymakers who wish to understand the importance of learning the Estonian language from the perspective of students.

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Keywords:

Estonian Language, Motivation, International Student, CHAID, Decision Tree