Multilingual Europe: Attitudes and Motivation in Second Foreign Language Learning. A Study of Swedish University Students of German.

Polina KORDIK

Master's thesis

Multilingual Europe: Second Language Learning and its Effects on Language Attitudes

Abstract:

This study is within the general area of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), focusing on acquisition of German by university students living in Sweden in formal (class room) settings. The main aim of the study is, firstly, to find out what motivations and attitudes students in Sweden have towards learning German, and whether there any changing patterns in these attitudes as students progress through different stages in their language learning process. Secondly, the study investigates what relevance the attitudes and motivation of students may have for the popularization of learning German and other foreign languages in Sweden besides English and, more generally, for the EU principle of mother tongue plus two foreign languages. A questionnaire survey was carried out specifically for the present work, focusing on learners? motivation and language attitudes, as well as their awareness of projects initiated by the European Union (?mother tongue plus two languages? initiative and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR). The survey was conducted at the universities of Uppsala and Stockholm. 102 students taking courses in German at various levels from beginners to advanced participated at the survey.

Abstract:

This study is within the general area of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), focusing on acquisition of German by university students living in Sweden in formal (class room) settings. The main aim of the study is, firstly, to find out what motivations and attitudes students in Sweden have towards learning German, and whether there any changing patterns in these attitudes as students progress through different stages in their language learning process. Secondly, the study investigates what relevance the attitudes and motivation of students may have for the popularization of learning German and other foreign languages in Sweden besides English and, more generally, for the EU principle of mother tongue plus two foreign languages. A questionnaire survey was carried out specifically for the present work, focusing on learners? motivation and language attitudes, as well as their awareness of projects initiated by the European Union (?mother tongue plus two languages? initiative and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR) . The survey was conducted at the universities of Uppsala and Stockholm. 102 students taking courses in German at various levels from beginners to advanced participated at the survey.

Keywords

second language acquisition, language policy of the European Union, mother tongue plus two languages, German as a foreign language, language attitudes and motivation.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 4. 5. 2012

Accessible from:: 4. 5. 2012

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: PhDr. Daniel Topinka, Ph.D.

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC

Philosophical Faculty

Master programme / field:
Cultural Studies / Euroculture