Appendix 1. Attitude Questionnaire
Do you personally know anyone (apart from your language teacher) who can speak a language other than English?
If <<Yes>>, what is your relationship to that person (e.g. relative, neighbour, friend)? What do you think about the language you are studying now? For each item listed below, rate the importance it had for you by circling one of the three numbers as follows:
- this language is prettier (sounds better, is more musical) than others I could have taken:
- this language is easier than others I could have taken:
- this language is of great importance in today's world:
- this language will probably be useful in getting a good job some day:
- I want to visit the country where the language is spoken:
- I want to understand better the people who speak this language, and their way of life:
- this language is (or was at one time) spoken by my relatives, or by persons who are (or were) close to me:
- knowledge of this language will make me more important:
- Any other reasons? Please state briefly _________________________________________
Wait until your teacher tells you to turn the page .. !
The following are various skills that a foreign language course can emphasize. Rate the extent to which you are interested in each of them by circling one of the three numbers as follows:
- being able to engage in an everyday conversation with native speakers of this language:
- being able to listen to the radio and TV in this language:
- being able to read in this language:
- being able to write letters in this language:
- being able to write stories in this language:
- Any others? _________________________________________________________
Do you think the teacher
places too much emphasis on speaking correctly at all times?
Would it help you if you spoke the language more often, even if this meant speaking incorrectly?
Would you like to spend more time discussing the background of the people whose language you are studying? - Discussion in English Yes
[ ] No
[ ] No
option [ ]
Wait until your teacher tells you to turn the page .. !
Could you do better if your language course were taught in a different way?
Indicate how satisfied you are with each of the following aspects of your foreign language courses by circling one of the three numbers as follows:
- the classroom activities:
- the homework assigned:
- the teacher's ability to speak the language:
- the teacher's ability to help you learn (his/her helpfulness):
- Any other aspects of the course for which you want to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction?
Do you wish you could speak a foreign language like a native speaker? Definitely [ ] Maybe [ ] No [ ] If you had to stay in another country for an extended period of time, would you make a great effort to learn the language spoken there, even if you could get along in English? Definitely [ ] Maybe [ ] No [ ] How important is it for Australians to learn foreign languages? Extremely important [ ] Important [ ] Not so important [ ] Would you say the time you have spent learning a foreign language has been beneficial to you? Definitely yes[ ] Yes [ ] Not sure [ ] No [ ]
Wait until your teacher tells you to turn the page .. !
To what extent do the following people consider foreign language study important? In each case circle one of the three numbers:
- your friends: 3 2 1 - your parents: 3 2 1 - your high school teachers other than the foreign language teacher: 3 2 1 - society as a whole: 3 2 1 - yourself: 3 2 1
To what extent are you in favour of the following? In each case, circle one of the three numbers:
- beginning the study of a foreign language in primary school:
- having four years of foreign language study in high school:
- eliminating the teaching of foreign languages in Australian schools:
- requiring everyone to take a foreign language at some time during his/her schooling:
Would you consider going overseas to increase your skills in the use of a foreign language? Definitely [ ] Maybe [ ] No [ ] How enjoyable do you find the study of a foreign language? Very enjoyable [ ] Slightly enjoyable [ ] Not enjoyable [ ]
Wait until your teacher tells you to turn the page .. !
Do you feel at ease when making use of the skills you are learning (or have learned) in a foreign language? - in listening Yes [ ] No [ ] Not sure [ ] - in speaking Yes [ ] No [ ] Not sure [ ] - in reading Yes [ ] No [ ] Not sure [ ] - in writing Yes [ ] No [ ] Not sure [ ]
Yes [ ] No [ ] Do not know [ ] - If <<Yes>>, how much of this special talent do you think you have? Above average [ ] Average [ ] Below Average [ ] Do not know [ ] - Do you feel that lack of
this special talent prevents you from getting anything out of Yes [ ] No [ ] Not applicable [ ] - How likely is it, do you
think , that you will one day be a fluent speaker of a second definitely yes [ ] very likely [ ] possibly [ ] very unlikely [ ] definitely no [ ]
Some people feel uneasy, or are afraid to make mistakes or to sound ridiculous, when they try to speak a foreign language that they are studying. How often do you feel that way yourself? never [ ] almost never [ ] sometimes [ ] almost always [ ] always [ ] - In this situations, whom do you blame for your uneasiness? mostly
yourself [
] Will you continue to study German when it is no longer a compulsory subject? definitely yes [ ] probably [ ] definitely no [ ] do not know [ ] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||