Vol 11, No 1, 2012 pp. 21-31
UDC 316.644-057.875: [371.3:81’243
ATTITUDES OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING
Jelena Maksimović#, Jelena Petrović
University of Niš, Faculty of Philosophy, Serbia
#E-mail: jelena.maximovic@filfac.ni.ac.rs
This paper explains the relation between the attitudes of students in the humanities and social sciences to foreign languages and their average college grade. The main goal of language learning is not just mastering a new language system, but preparing for interpersonal communication and cooperation and the promotion of equality of men in education, culture, science. Also, foreign language skills enable a more intensive exchange with other people, aiming to promote tolerance and respect for cultural diversity. On an individual basis, mastery of a foreign language encourages the development of a student's personality and identity. Studies indicate that knowledge of a foreign language allows an individual to meet with the most significant cultural and historical characteristics of foreign countries. The aim of this study is to define the attitudes of students towards foreign languages, their opinion on possible choices and the need for mastering a foreign language in contemporary society. The goals of the study were: (1) To find out what influences their choice in choosing the foreign language, (2) To identify the favorite foreign languages among the student population, (3) To determine the reasons for the lack of motivation for learning a foreign language, (4) To find out the students' opinion on the importance of knowing a foreign language for their future interest, (5) To identify situations in which students use a foreign language in everyday life. The results showed that language learning is affected more by social reasons than by personal interests or cultural reasons, that learning English is considered to be of general interest, as a help in using computers and the like. Boring lectures and topics are the reasons for the lack of motivation for learning foreign languages, more than uninteresting textbooks, teachers and subjects (p<0.001). The facts identified in our study also suggest that students consider learning a foreign language very important for their future interest and also for everyday situations when using the Internet.
Key words: foreign languages, student education, student attitudes, interculturalism.
STAVOVI STUDENATA HUMANISTIČKIH I DRUŠTVENIH NAUKA PREMA STRANIM JEZICIMA
Ovom radom objašnjava se relacija studenata humanističkih i društvenih nauka prema stranim jezicima na osnovu prosečne ocene na fakultetu. Glavni cilj učenja jezika nije samo ovladavanje novim jezičkim sistemom, već predstavlja osposobljavanje za medjuljudsko sporazumevanje i saradnju, unapredjivanja jednakosti ljudi u obrazovanju, kulturu, nauci. Takođe, znanje stranih jezika razvija intenzivniju komunikacija sa ljudima, a sve to sa ciljem širenja tolerancije i poštovanju kulturne različitosti. Na individulnom planu učenje jezika podstiče razvoj ličnosti studenata i njegovog identiteta. Istraživanje ukazuje na to da poznavanje stranog jezika omogućuje upoznavanje pojedinca sa najznačajnijim kulturno istorijskim karakteristikama stanih zemalja. Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi odnos studenata prema stranom, njihovom mišljenju o izboru i potrebi stranog jezika u savremenom društvu. Postavljeni zadaci u istraživanju su: (1) Saznati šta utiče na izbor učenja stranog jezika, (2) Utvrditi koji strani jezik studenti forsiraju, (3) Utvrditi razloge nemotivisanosti studenta za učenje stranog jezika, (4) U kolikoj meri poznavanje stranog jezika važno za buduće zanimanje, (5) Utvrditi u kojim svakodnevnim situacijama se koristi strani jezik. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da na učenje stranog jezika utiču društveni razlozi više nego lična interesovanja ili kulturni razlozi, da je učenje engleskog jezika predstavlja opštu informisanost, kao znanje rada na komjuteru i slično. Nezanimljiva predavanja i temu predstavljaju razloge nemotivisanosti za učenje stranog jezika, više nego nezanimljivi udžbenici, teme i nastavnici (p<0,001). Činjenice u istraživanju nam ukazuju na to da je učenje stranog jezika veoma važno za buduće zanimanje a da strani jezik u svakodnvnim situacijama najčešće koristimo prilikom upotrene interneta.
Ključne reči: strani jezici, obrazovanje studenata, stavovi studenata, interkulturalizam
