STUDENTS OF "EASY" LANGUAGES, THEIR BELIEFS ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

This paper investigates the beliefs about language learning held by 53 first-month university students enrolled in Swahili compared those of 113 students of French and Spanish. Based in part upon the research design and instrument of Elaine Horwitz (University of Texas-Austin), this paper isolates the results from a larger study of eight languages. The greatest number of Etudents agreed that repeat and practice are important for foreign language learning; overall, there was 30 percent agreement on the statements between the 2 groups of students (Swahili versus French and Spanish). Swahili students reported strongest disagreement with not speak until correct, while the other group reported greatest disagreement on to read in a foreign language, one must know all the words. Overall, statements indicated a more positive response from students of Swahili than from the other students. Findings identify the most strongly rated beliefs, the significant different beliefs for students of Swahili, and the underlying structure of beliefs, and they provide strong evidence that studomts of Swahili do hold uniqUe beliefs concerning language learning. Actual result data is avended. (Contains 31 references.) (Author/NAV) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** STUDENTS OF EASY LANGUAGES, THEIR BELIEFS ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING

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