Colloque

Important Variables in Learning Foreign Languages

Moshe Anisfeld

Membre a labase

Moshe Anisfeld

Résumé du colloque

Investigators have recognized that intelligence and language aptitude, though playing a role in the acquisition of a new language, do not explain the whole range of individual differences in achievement of a foreign language. The present paper will explore the role of attitudes towards the language community whose language one is learning on the acquisition of that language. Empirical studies with French and Hebrew studied by Montreal high school students as second languages will be reported. These studies demonstrate that a favorable attitude towards the habitual speakers of a language is an important prerequisite for attainment of proficiency in that language.