Term
2010
Capstone
Restricted Access Thesis
Degree Name
MAESL
Abstract
This study was designed to answer the following questions: What are high school students' motivations for taking more advanced levels of foreign language class? What other forces in their lives influence their decisions? As a Spanish teacher, I am concerned that so few students continue their Spanish studies beyond the minimum two years and therefore do not become proficient in the language. The methods used in my study include a short informal interview and four different online surveys. The participants were discontinued Spanish students and current Spanish I and IV students, their parents, and the high school counselor. The results of this study indicate that students who take only one or two years do so to meet a college recommendation and students who take four years have a desire to communicate in the language. All students demonstrated a positive attitude towards Spanish as did the parents surveyed.
Recommended Citation
Peters, Amy M, "Student motivation towards foreign language learning: why do high school students take two or four years of Spanish?" (2010). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 407.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/407