1st Peace as a Global Language Conference Proceedings & Supplement

Peace in the Classroom: Appendix G
Beliefs about Language Learning

* Draw a circle around the number that matches your opinion:
1 = I agree strongly.
2 = I agree.
3 = I have no opinion.
4 = I disagree.
5 = I disagree strongly.
* Talk to members of your group about your beliefs.
* Draw a circle around the number that matches the opinion of your group.
* Remember - there are no correct or incorrect answers.

My Language Learning Beliefs 1 2 3 4 5
1 Learning a language means acquiring a body of knowledge.
2 The teacher has this knowledge and must give it to the learner.
3 Learning a language means organizing ideas through experience.
4 Learning a language means learning structure and vocabulary.
5 Learning a language means having ideas about the language and testing them by speaking to other learners or native speakers.
6 It is most important to be able to speak the new language.
7 It is most important to know the grammar of the new language.
8 It is most important to be able to communicate in the language.
9 The role of the teacher is to help students learn how to learn.
10 The role of the teacher is to help students prepare for examinations.
11 The role of the teacher is to share knowledge.
12 The role of the teacher is to prepare students for adult life.
13 The role of the teacher is to control the students.
14 Native-speaking teachers should learn the language of their students.
15 Some languages are easier to learn than others.
16 People who are good at science cannot learn languages.
17 People who speak more than one language are very intelligent.
18 Some people have a special ability to learn languages.
19 Learning a new language improves the character of the student.
20 Learning a new language develops cultural awareness.
21 English is important for getting a good career.
22 English is a difficult language to learn.
23 Learning a language is different to learning other subjects.
24 Children learn a new language easier than adults.
25 Women are better than men at learning a language
26 Everyone should learn to speak a foreign language.
27 Everyone has the ability to learn a foreign language.
28 Listening to a foreign language is more difficult than speaking it.
29 Reading a foreign language is easier than writing it.
30 It is best to learn English in an English-speaking country.
31 It is most important to learn vocabulary.
32 It is most important to think in English.
33 It is important to repeat words and practice a lot.
34 Pronunciation is most important.
35 I should only speak when I can say the correct words.
36 Beginners should always be corrected.
37 Studying for an hour a day is enough to learn a language fluently.
38 It is necessary to know the culture in order to speak a language well.
39 If I can speak a foreign language it will be easy to learn another one.
40 It is best to have teachers who are native-speakers.

Adapted from Horwitz, E.K. (1988). Beliefs about language learning of beginning university foreign language students. Modern Language Journal, 72 (3).

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Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix H Appendix I
Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L Appendix M Appendix N Appendix O Appendix P Appendix Q

PGL1 Conference Proceedings:

Topic Index Author Index Title Index Main Index

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