Microsoft Word Dec 8 oneill Vol N5 doc

 
Students’ views on learning English as a foreign language 
An analysis of the two sub-groups’ responses to two questions about learning foreign 
languages and time spent on different in-class English language learning experiences
are reported here. Interestingly, according to the students’ responses none of them in 
either group had been taught English by a native speaker in Japan.
Table 9
compares the two groups’ percentage positive agreement ratings on eleven 
i
deas about learning foreign languages. 
The items are ordered on the basis of the 
Higher Level
STEP Test group’s extent of agreement from strong agreement to limited 
agreement. These percentages show that the two groups had approximately the same 
extent of agreement on only two items: 
d Learning another language helps people to better understand people of other cultures. 
i 
All children should learn another language in addition to Japanese. 
The 
Higher Level
STEP Test group were much more positive with respect to: 
h Speaking more than one language helps people to get better jobs. (53%)
 
k My parents are in favour of my learning another language. (32%) 
b I like speaking a language other than Japanese. (22%) and ten percent more positive 
with respect to c Knowing more than one language makes people cleverer. 
 
Table 9: Students’ percentage positive agreement with 
opinions
 
about learning 
foreign languages 
and
 
English proficiency level 
 
Item 
 
Opinions about learning foreign languages
Higher 
STEP 
TEST 
Lower