Does the Early Foreign Language Learning Influence the Attitude Towards the Native Language Learning?

Abstract

The paper deals with the factors, which possibly influence the motivation of the native language learning. The study was carried out at Vytautas Magnus University (Kaunas), in a framework of a national project ‘Lietuvių vaikų kalba: įtakos ir tendencijos‘ (‘Lithuanian Child Language: Influences and Tendencies’), supported by the grant No. LIT-1-18 from the Research Council of Lithuania. According to the methodology of cross-sectional investigations, a sample of three target groups was formed by an experience of foreign language learning. During the investigation, the respondents (2nd and 5th grade pupils) were asked to fill in a special questionnaire, where various external and internal factors (language environment and individual characteristics) were examined. After the statistic analysis of questionnaire data, the following can be stated. The attitude towards the native language learning is influenced mostly by positive internal factors, and the strongest correlation was observed between children’s interest in reading, writing and speaking, i. e. the children, who stated they like these activities, demonstrated more positive attitude towards the Lithuanian (native) language learning. The statistic analysis did not indicate any correlation between any other factors (including influence of early foreign language learning, home languages, computer games etc.) and children’s attitude to the Lithuanian language learning.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sal.0.19.958