What factors are likely to influence the attitudes of younger children aged six to ten?
Compare the attitudes of a group of Spanish pupils aged seven to eight below with the older pupils in post.
I like it and it is fun
I play in English and I learn a lot
Es muy chuli/ (It is cool/)
It depends on the teacher
I'm with my friends
It is interesting
I like to speak in English and my mother likes it
I like how it sounds but sometimes it is a 'pain' (translated from Spanish)
Younger children tend to be inluenced by their feelings for their teacher, the general learning atmosphere in the classroom, the methods used and by their parents opinions.
Two of the most important reasons for pupils liking English appear to be teacher and teaching methods. This suggests that your role as the teacher is very important in selecting appropriate learning materials, planning interesting learning activities and in creating a positive learning environment. However, parental and peer influences are also important and need to be considered in trying to develop positive attitudes. Parental influences may be more important in younger children, while peer influences may become more important
as children approach their teens.
The main difference between the older and younger Spanish pupils' responses is that older pupils can see a need for English, and this provides them with a reason for learning it. The seven to eight-year-old pupils may be too young to feel any need for English. Their attitude is mainly affected by whether they like the teacher (It depends on the teacher), the way English lessons are taught (It is fun), their parents' views (My mother likes it) and what their friends feel about English (I'm with my friends, it is cool to learn English).
There do seem to be differences m attitudes to English between age groups. Younger children tend to be more enthusiastic, while older children (11-12 upwards) often become less interested, embarrassed by having to learn a language or even hostile because they don't want to seem foolish in front of their friends.
Attitudes do not remain fixed and can be affected both positively or negatively by influences on pupils from outside school, for example their parents views, their friends views. They can be affected by influences from mside the school, for example how their teacher views English and what he/she does to stimulate their interest. Attitudes can also be influenced by the learning process itself and by its outcomes. So if pupils enjoy their English classes and are successful, this may in turn develop positive attitudes and increase motivation If both you and your pupils have positive attitudes to learning English, this will help to create the kind of learning environment in which language learning will flourish.