Article Sidebar

Submitted
May 2, 2019
Published
February 22, 2019
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 137 Download : 86

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Main Article Content

Abstract

Over the last few decades, scholars concerned with language and education have studied the relationship between adolescents’ attitudes and foreign language learning. This topic has been an important area of study in the field of applied linguistics predominantly from a psychological perspective. This research used secondary data from the Young Life and Times (YLT) and employed a descriptive qualitative research with a cross-sectional design. The Chi-Square test was used in order to test the five hypotheses proposed in this study. This present study found that gender and residential locations were significant factors relating to the 16-year old adolescents’ attitudes toward learning a foreign language. Conversely, this study found that there was no statistically significant evidence of differences among the other three variables (the family affluence, school types attended and religions) in relation to the young people’s attitudes to the foreign language. This finding may be useful as a reflection of how the current modern language learning policy is implemented and how teenagers, especially in the context of Northern Ireland, respond to the policy.

Keywords: Adolescents’ Attitudes, Learning, foreign language learning

Article Details

License

Authors who publish in this journal agree with the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
  4. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Author Biography

Udi Samanhudi, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Banten Queen's University Belfast, UK

Udi Samanhudi is a faculty member at the English Education Department of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa State University Banten, Indonesia and is now a doctoral student in TESOL at Queen’s university of Belfast, the United Kingdom (UK). He completed his bachelor degree in the area of English Education in Yogyakarta State University and master program at the same area in Indonesia University of Education, Bandung. His research interest includes discourse analysis, genre analysis in language education, critical writing pedagogy and teaching English in EFL context. His current articles were published in Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, Excellence in Higher Education, The Asian EFL Journal and Indonesian Research Journal in Education (IRJE) and International Journal of Language Teaching and Education. His current book chapter is will soon be published in INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES AND KNOWLEGDE by Universiti Malaysia Perlish.

How to Cite
Samanhudi, U. (2019). NORTHERN IRISH ADOLESCENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM?. JOALL (Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature), 4(1), 100–119. https://doi.org/10.33369/joall.v4i1.7387
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

References

  1. Ali, N. L., Hamid, M. O., and Moni, K. (2011) ‘English in primary education in Malaysia: policies, outcomes and stakeholders’ lived experiences’, Current Issues in Language Planning, 12(2), pp147-166.
  2. Aldashev, A., Gernandt, J. & Thomsen, S. (2009) 'Language usage, participation, employment and earnings: Evidence for foreigners in West Germany with multiple sources of selection', Labour Economics, 16, pp330–341.
  3. Alordiah, C., Akpadaka, G. and Oviogbodu, C. (2015) 'The influence of gender, school location and socio-economic status on students’ academic achievement in mathematics', Journal of Education and Practice, 6(17), pp130-136.
  4. Anderson, J., Lin, H., Tragust, D., Ross, S. and Yore, L. (2007) 'Using large-scale assessment datasets for research in science and mathematics education: Programme for international student assessment (PISA)', International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 5, pp591-614.
  5. Bacon, S.M., (1992) ‘The relationship between gender, comprehension, processing strategies, and cognitive and affective response in foreign language listening’. The modern language Journal, 76(2), pp.160-178.
  6. British Council & Think Global (2015) The global skills gap – preparing young people for the new global economy. Retrieved on January 10, 2017 from https://think-global.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/dea/documents/BusinessPoll_online_TG.pdf
  7. British Council (2011) Broadening horizons: The value of the overseas experience. Retrieved on January 10, 2017 from www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/6.3_broadening-horizons-2015.pdf
  8. Boninger, D.S., Krosnick, J.A., Berent, M.K. and Fabrigar, L.R., (1995) ‘The causes and consequences of attitude importance’. Attitude strength: Antecedents and consequences, 4, pp.159-189.
  9. Bryman, A. (2012, 4th Edition) Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  10. Boyle, J.P., (1987) ‘Sex differences in listening vocabulary’. Language learning, 37(2), pp.273-284.
  11. Cable, C., Driscoll, P., Mitchell, R., Sing, S., Cremin, T., Earl, J., Eyres, I., Holmes, B., Martin, C. & Heins, B. (2012). 'Language learning at Key Stage 2: findings from a longitudinal study', Education 3-13, 40(4), pp363-378.
  12. Chambell, J. (2016) Household wealth: Study suggests NI is 'most economically equal part of UK'. Retrieved on January 20, 2017 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36208779
  13. Chiswick, B. & Miller, P. (2003) 'The complementarity of language and other human capital: immigrant earnings in Canada', Economics of Education Review, 22, pp469–480.
  14. Clark, A., &Trafford.(1995) ‘Boys into Modern Languages: an Investigation in Attitudes and Performance Between Boys and Girls in Modern Languages’. Gender and Education, 7, pp.315-325.
  15. Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K., 2011. Planning educational research. Research methods in education. New York: Routledge Editors.
  16. Cohen, A. D. (2014). Strategies in learning and using a second language. Routledge.
  17. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011, 7th Edition) Research Method in Education. Oxon: Routledge.
  18. Conolly, P. (2007) Quantitative data analysis – A critical Introduction using SPSS. London: Sage.
  19. Daly, P., (1996) ‘The effects of single?sex and coeducational secondary schooling on girls’ achievement’. Research Papers in Education, 11(3), pp.289-306.
  20. Daly, P., (1995) ‘Science course participation and science achievement in single sex and co?educational schools’. Evaluation & Research in Education, 9(2), pp.91-98.
  21. Daly, P. and Shuttleworth, I., (1997) ‘Determinants of public examination entry and attainment in mathematics: Evidence on gender and gender-type of school from the 1980s and 1990s in Northern Ireland’. Evaluation & Research in Education, 11(2), pp.91-101.
  22. Dörnyei, Z., (1994) ‘Motivation and motivating in the foreign language classroom’. The modern language journal, 78(3), pp.273-284.
  23. Ellis, R., 2015. Understanding Second Language Acquisition 2nd Edition-Oxford Applied Linguistics. Oxford university press.
  24. Ellis, R., 1994. The study of second language acquisition. Oxford University.
  25. Fan, W. (2011) ‘Social influences, school motivation and gender differences: An application of the expectancy-value theory’. Educational Psychology Review, 31(2), pp157–175.
  26. Gardner, R.C. and Lambert, W.E., (1972). Attitudes and Motivation in Second-Language Learning. Rowley, MA: Newbury House
  27. G?ówka, D. (2014). ‘The impact of gender on attainment in learning English as a foreign language’. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 4(4), pp617-635.
  28. Karahan, F. (2007) ‘Language attitudes of Turkish students towards the English language and its use in Turkish context. Journal of arts and sciences, 7(1), pp73-87.
  29. Khansir, A. A., Jafarizadegan, N., & Karampoor, F. (2016) ‘Relation between socio-economic status and motivation of learners in learning English as a foreign language. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 6(4), pp742.
  30. Hayes, B. C., McAllister, I., & Dowds, L. (2013). ‘Integrated schooling and religious tolerance in Northern Ireland’. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 28(1), pp67-78.
  31. Hedge, T. (2001). Teaching and learning in the language classroom (Vol. 106). Oxford,, UK: Oxford University Press.
  32. Hernández, T. A. (2010) ‘The relationship among motivation, interaction, and the development of second language oral proficiency in a study?abroad context’. The Modern Language Journal, 94(4), pp600-617.
  33. Hosseini Fatemi, A., & Khaghaninezhad, M. S. (2012) ‘The Role of Ethnicity in Integrative Tests Performances of Male/Female Iranian English Learners of Different Language Proficiency Levels’. Journal of Teaching Language Skills, 30(2), pp29-56.
  34. Hughes, J., Campbell, A., & Jenkins, R. (2011) ‘Contact, trust and social capital in Northern Ireland: a qualitative study of three mixed communities’. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 34(6), pp967-985.
  35. Hurtado, A., & Gurin, P. (1987) ‘Ethnic identity and bilingualism attitudes’. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 9(1), pp1-18.
  36. Khansir, A. A., Jafarizadegan, N., & Karampoor, F. (2016) ‘Relation between socio-economic status and motivation of learners in learning English as a foreign language’. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 6(4), pp742.
  37. Kobayashi, Y. (2002). ‘The role of gender in foreign language learning attitudes: Japanese female students' attitudes towards English learning’. Gender and education, 14(2), pp181-197.
  38. Kormos, J., & Kiddle, T. (2013) ‘The role of socio-economic factors in motivation to learn English as a foreign language: The case of Chile’. System, 41(2), 399-412.
  39. Labov, W., 1990. ‘The intersection of sex and social class in the course of linguistic change’. Language variation and change, 2(02), pp.205-254.
  40. López Rúa, P. (2006). ‘The sex variable in foreign language learning: an integrative approach’. Porta Linguarum 6(6), pp99-114.
  41. Liyanage, I., Birch, G., & Grimbeek, P. (2004) ‘Religion, Ethnicity and Language Learning Strategies’. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual International Conference on cognition, language and special education, 3-5 december, 2004. pp. 222-229
  42. Masgoret, A. M., & Gardner, R. C. (2003) ‘Attitudes, motivation, and second language learning: a meta–analysis of studies conducted by Gardner and associates’. Language learning, 53(1), pp123-163.
  43. Mburu, D.N., (2013) ‘Effects of the type of school attended on students academic performance in kericho and kipkelion districts, kenya’. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 3 (4), pp. 79-90
  44. McGroarty, M., (1996) ‘ Language attitudes, motivation, and standards’. Sociolinguistics and language teaching, pp.3-46.
  45. Micho?ska-Stadnik, A., (2004) ‘Gender differences and preferred learning environment in a foreign language classroom’. Pragmatics and language learning, 3(5) pp.183-192.
  46. Muñoz, C., (2008) ‘Symmetries and asymmetries of age effects in naturalistic and instructed L2 learning’. Applied Linguistics, 29(4), pp.578-596.
  47. Murphy, B., (2010) ‘Foreign language learning in Irish second level schools: gender very much on the agenda’. Irish Educational Studies, 29(1), pp.81-95.
  48. Nikolov, M. (2009). Early modern foreign language programmes and outcomes: Factors contributing to Hungarian learners’ proficiency. In M. Nikolov (Ed.), Early learning of modern foreign languages (pp. 90-107). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
  49. Norton, B., (2000) Identity and language learning: Gender, ethnicity and educational change. Editorial Dunken.
  50. Oxford, R. and Shearin, J., (1994)’ Language learning motivation: Expanding the theoretical framework’. The modern language journal, 78(1), pp.12-28.
  51. Oey-Gardiner, M. (2000) 'Schooling in a decentralized Indonesia: New approaches to access and decision making', Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 36(3), pp127-134.
  52. Opoku-Asare, N. and Siaw, A. (2016) 'Curricula and inferential factors that affect student achievement in rural, urban, and peri-urban senior high schools in Ghana: Evidence from the visual arts program', SAGE Open, pp1-13. Retrieved on January 12, 2017 from https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage.
  53. Perry, C. and Love, B. (2013) 'Rural schools', Research and Information Service Research Paper/ Northern Ireland Assembly, Retrieved on January 20, 2017 from http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2013/education/2713.pdf.
  54. Punch, K. (2005, 2nd Edition) Introduction to social research – quantitative and qualitative approaches. London: Sage Publications
  55. Rao, J. and Ye, J. (2016) 'From a virtuous cycle of rural-urban education to urban-oriented rural basic education in China: An explanation of the failure of China’s rural school mapping adjustment policy', Journal of Rural studies, 47, pp601-611.
  56. Roberts, L. and Allen, P. (2015) 'Exploring ethical issues associated with using online surveys in educational research', Educational Research and Evaluation, 21(2), pp95-108.
  57. Pavlenko, A. and Piller, I., (2008) ‘Language education and gender. In Encyclopedia of language and education (pp. 57-69). Springer US.
  58. López Rúa, P., (2006) ’ The sex variable in foreign language learning: an integrative approach’. PORTA LINGUARUM 6(3), pp. 99-114.
  59. Schubotz, D. & McCartan, C. (2016) 'Attitudes to language learning and internationalization – Evidence from 2015 Young Life and Times (YLT)', Northern Ireland Young Life and Time, pp1-34.
  60. Shuttleworth, I., and Lloyd, C. (2001) Mapping segregation in Northern Ireland. Belfast: House Executive.
  61. Shaaban, K., & Ghaith, G. (2003). Effect of religion, first foreign language, and gender on the perception of the utility of language. Journal of language, identity, and education, 2(1), 53-77.