Second Language Learning:

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

by Joanna Sturiano


Sample Survey 2


Second Language Learning

part two

Instructions: Please read each question carefully and either circle the appropriate answer or check the answers that are applicable to you.

1. What methods of language learning have you been using in this class semester? (check all that apply)

___ speaking & oral drills, repeating what others/teachers said, memorizing German dialogues

___ copying down vocabulary & memorizing lists of words & phrases in German

___ writing paragraphs/short papers/written assignments in German

___ free conversation with classmates/family/friends/peers/teacher in German

___ watching videos/tv programs in German

___ singing songs in German

___ reading texts, magazines, novels, etc. in target language

___ other (please specify) ________________________________________________

2. What were your favorite methods for learning German this semester? (check all that may apply or write in other methods)

___ speaking & oral drills, repeating what others/teachers said, memorizing German dialogues

___ copying down vocabulary & memorizing lists of words & phrases in German

___ writing paragraphs/short papers/written assignments in German

___ free conversation with classmates/family/friends/peers/teacher in German

___ watching videos/tv programs in German

___ singing songs in German

___ reading texts, magazines, novels, etc. in target language

___ other (please specify) ________________________________________________

3. What are your attitudes/feelings regarding the effectiveness of your learning of German this semester?

___ you feel you have learned well & effectively by the methods used to teach you

___ you feel that only some of the methods you used to learn German helped you; others did not

___ you feel that your learning experience was not the best for your needs & situation; you feel the methods used were not well-suited to your learning needs & preferences

4. Would you consider yourself a good language learner? In other words, if you have taken a foreign language course, was it one of your "best" courses, grade-wise?

___ Yes

___ No

4b. Was your foreign language class(es) your favorite class?

___ Yes _____ No .

5. Do you find that learning languages is easy and exciting? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. Do you agree that learning a foreign language is an important, worthwhile part of a college student's curriculum and course of study?

___ Yes

___ No

___ Not sure

7. How would you characterize your attitude now toward learning German?

___ very enthusiastic

___ mildly enthusiastic

___ interested

___ indifferent

___ disinterested

other _____________________________________

8. What method[s] or element[s] do you feel were missing from class this semester? [please describe method, activity or other aspect briefly]

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

9. What was the most memorable thing/method/activity you encountered this semester? [please describe briefly]

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

10. Give a recommendation for something you would change/remove/improve/add in this course for the future.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

11. For those of you who have studied another foreign language before this semester of German, do you prefer the methods you used in the past to learn that language, or the methods used this semester?

___ I prefer the methods used in this class.

___ I prefer the methods used in my previous foreign language learning.

___ I have no preference between these two methods of foreign language learning.

12. Would you study a foreign language you were interested in, even if the methods used to teach that particular course were your least preferred methods of learning?

___ yes

___ no

___ not sure

13. Are you interested in studying more foreign languages or continuing in the study of German in the future?

___ yes

___ no

13b. If yes, why?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

13c. If no, why not?

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

14. What is your favorite thing about foreign language learning? [please describe briefly]

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

15. What is your least favorite thing about language learning? [please describe briefly]

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

16. Do you consider yourself to be someone who finds language learning more interesting or less interesting after having taken this course?

_____ more interesting

______ less interesting

______ about the same level of interest

17. As you near the semester's end, do you feel you have accomplished what you set out to do and met the goals you made for yourself in this course? In other words, are you satisfied that you have received from this course all that you set out to get?

_____ yes

_____ no

_____ I am only partially satisfied.

18. Were the methods you would have chosen to use to learn German the same as the methods really used in this class?

_____ yes

_____ no

_____ My proposed methods were only partially used in this class.

19. Do you think that your opinion of this course [in terms of your enjoyment, and progress] is due to how well and how closely the methods used to teach you German were the same as those you prefer to use in language learning?

_____ yes

_____ no

_____ I think that the similarity of teaching methods was only a part of my opinion of this course.

20. In your opinion, what method(s) would make up the best way to learn foreign languages? (check all that may apply or write in other methods)

___ speaking & oral drills, repeating what others/teachers said, memorizing German dialogues

___ copying down vocabulary & memorizing lists of words & phrases in German

___ writing paragraphs/short papers/written assignments in German

___ free conversation with classmates/family/friends/peers/teacher in German

___ watching videos/tv programs in German

___ singing songs in German

___ reading texts, magazines, novels, etc. in target language

___ other (please specify) ________________________________________________


return to introductory page ** feedback: email me!

go to case studies ** go to procedure

see sample survey 1 ** read results/conclusion

this site last updated 5/4/99

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