Second Language Learning:

How Important Are The Learner's Past Experiences and Attitudes?

a study by Joanna Sturiano

• This study asks, what effect do a student's past experiences learning a second language have on his/her new experiences with second language learning? How important are a student's own perceptions of their ability to learn second languages? Do students really learn language best when using methods they perceive to be the best and most effective, or is there a universal "best" way to teach second languages? Under the supervision of Professor Donna Van Handle, in a first-year honors tutorial entitled "Second Language Acquistion" at Mount Holyoke College, I sought answers to these ambitious questions. See the results of the thirteen case studies I followed over the spring '99 semester in a Mount Holyoke College Intensive Elementary German course here on this site. Also available are blank copies of the two surveys I distributed to this class [first at the beginning and then at the end of the semester] to evaluate the students' changes in attitudes and expectations towards second language learning.

• With this site, I would like to share the results of my experiment, and pose some hypotheses regarding certain second language learning. I welcome feedback, criticism and ideas via email [see link below]. My goal is also to raise awareness of some of the many factors affecting second language acquisition. Thank you for taking the time to review the results of my research.

  my procedure ** read case studies ** sample survey 1

  sample survey 2 ** feedback: email me ** results/conclusions

  second language acquisition tutorial site

  mount holyoke college

  this site last updated 5/4/99

  this site is under construction!