Do you like learning English?
- What are some of the things your pupils say about learning English?
- In your opinion, what are the most important factors which influence pupils attitudes to learning English?
- Now study these comments below in translation from a group of 13-year-old Spanish children. They give reasons why they like or dislike learning English What may have influenced their attitudes.
- Compare what your pupils say with the Spanish children's comments
Do you like English?
YES, because ...
NO or not much, because ...
- It is good to learn another language and to go to work to other countries in the world
- It is not complicated and is a beautiful language.
- It is nice and can be useful later on.
- It is a language of great relevance in the world.
- That way 1 have more culture. I can understand computers and game instructions.
- Sometimes one gets all mixed up. It,s very confusing.
- My English is poorish. 1 feel a bit behind.
- It is very difficult.
- Only a bit. 1 am not very enthusiastic about it,
- but 1 think it will be useful.
It is difficult to know exactly what has influenced pupils' attitudes but we could guess from the comments that pupils are influenced by
- teaching methods (It is difficult, I feel left behind)
- seeing a need for English outside school (work in other countries, useful later on, understand game instructions, world language)
- personal preferences, interest m languages (It is a beautiful language)
Pupils vary widely in their attitudes, as the chart above shows It is also likely that their attitudes change or can be changed by their experiences For example, one pupil clearly developed a liking through gaming knowledge of the language, which perhaps contributed to his/her sense of confidence Some of the pupils above may have found English very difficult because of the way it was taught and a change of method could stimulate their interest Others may have experienced an early lack of success which could have contributed to their negative feelings Achieving some success could make all the difference to their feelings In your answers, perhaps you have included other influences on pupils' attitudes like parental views and peer group pressure.
Pupils' attitudes seem to change as they get older, perhaps m response to internal developments and different experiences in their environment It is interesting to consider differences in attitudes between age groups and also differences m the factors which influence their attitudes.