MODL 2301 Final project worksheet

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University of Texas, Arlington *

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2301

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Linguistics

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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MODL 2301 Final project worksheet: Foreign Language Higher Education Enrollment in the US 1. Students will reflect on a series of questions regarding possible reasons students choose to study foreign languages in the United States as well as reasons they choose a particular language. Students write responses and share them in small groups. [Critical Thinking Skills; Communication Skills; Social Responsibility] In your project group, reflect on the following questions and write brief answers to them (provide at least three reasons and three specific examples for each question):  What are some possible reasons students choosing to study foreign languages in the US? 1) To quote Roberts, Linda Et All academic paper, I found that one student’s reason for studying a foreign language (now dictated as FL) should not be the goal of FL study itself. Rather, the understanding of basic cultural and ethical differences should be the goal.” (Page 277, Roberts, Linda et al.) 2) The graphic bar chart located on page 279 on the same study highlights the importance of a few findings of this academic paper. Some important highlights realize that 80% +- mention that learning a FL was useful for better understanding the language’s culture, while 60% stated that studying a FL was for business/future career opportunities. Finally, the bottom 45-55% of participants shared that a combination of travel, world peace, cultural understanding in general as their reasoning behind studying a FL itself. 3) One final aspect that I have learned was that if a participant previously studied a FL, then the statistical odds of said participant continuing their studies as positively correlated. To further expand on this point, those students with a low grasp/control of the English language to begin before studying FL, such as 29.4% fluency, mentioned that the pursuit of FL study was for job/goal oriented reasonings. Meanwhile high fluency/honors students (top 29.7 percentile curve) mentioned that on top of job opportunities, that understanding a FL will better help them understand their major/fields of study, cultural understandings and overall world view and better connections with those they work with .  What are some reasons students choosing a particular language? 1) There is a high comparison that is quickly summarized by the idea that if the student/participant studied a FL previously, there is a high correlation that the student will study the same language in the future. (48.7% all the way to 56.8%, page 279, Roberts, Linda et al.)

MODL 2301 2) Cultural heritage, home spoken language and first language play a massive impact on the chosen FL studied in the future. This is added by the fact that a FL will be chosen that mirrors the student’s/participants heritage or ethical background. It is unlikely, although not impossible, that, for example, that someone of Texan/Mexican heritage or upbringing will study an obscure Eastern European dialect or FL, however this is not a rule simply more of a guiding principle. Generally, students will show preference to the languages, cultures and influences on their own home culture and upbringing than choosing a language that has no bearing on their daily activities. 3) Lastly, the fluency/control one student has with their native language/home language will greatly impact the chosen FL studied by said student. Familiarity and strength of the English language the speaker has often mirrors the similarities of the chosen FL. For example, if a student’s first language was English, they are statistically more likely to choose a language that mirrors the same syntax, grammatical similarities and structure patterns of their first language, which might be here in Texas, Spanish was the highest on the list, followed by French and last in immediate similarity, German. 2. Students critically read a study on attitudes of entering university freshmen toward foreign language study ( Roberts, Linda Pavian. "Attitudes of entering university freshmen toward foreign language study: A descriptive analysis." The Modern Language Journal 76.3 (1992): 275-283. ) Students analyze the study systematically by writing their answers to questions on this worksheet. In this purposefully selected older (1992) study, students will assess the methodology and analysis used (e.g., survey type, instruments used, number of questions asked, sample size, percentages of respondents, respondents’ characteristics), and they will evaluate whether the findings and conclusions in the 1992 study are still relevant. If not, in their project (#5 below), they may choose to search for more current answers to similar research questions. [Critical Thinking Skills; Empirical and Quantitative Skills; Social Responsibility] After reading the article above, answer the following questions working with your project group: 1. What is the methodology and analysis used in the study (the survey type, instruments used, number of questions asked, sample size, percentages of respondents, respondents’ characteristics)? Provide a detailed response to this question. In this reading, they conducted experiments on upcoming freshmen students and asked them how important they find studying Foreign Languages is and why do people study Foreign Languages. In June 1900, they asked 703 students (364 at the beginning of summer orientation

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