ERIC Number: EJ880545
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1481-868X
EISSN: N/A
Impact of Single-Sex Instruction on Student Motivation to Learn Spanish
Kissau, Scott; Quach, Lan; Wang, Chuang
Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics / Revue canadienne de linguistique appliquee, v12 n2 p54-78 2009
To increase male motivation to learn additional languages studies have suggested teaching males in single-sex second and foreign language classes (Carr & Pauwels, 2006; Chambers, 2005). Despite the reported benefits of this unique arrangement, a review of literature found no related research conducted in Canada or the United States. To address this lack of research, a study was conducted in the spring of 2008 to investigate the impact of single-sex instruction on student motivation to learn Spanish. Using Gardner's model of second language motivation (1985), 57 high-school students studying Spanish in either single-sex or coeducational classes completed a pre and post questionnaire to gauge their motivation to learn the language. Follow-up interviews were also conducted with both students and teachers. Results indicated that while both sexes enjoyed some educational advantages from the single-sex environment, the benefits appeared to be greater for the males than the females. (Contains 4 footnotes and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Learning Motivation, Foreign Countries, Spanish, Single Sex Classes, Males, Educational Benefits, Models, High School Students, Questionnaires, Interviews, Coeducation, Student Attitudes, Gender Differences, Language Attitudes, Anxiety, Student Behavior, Teacher Characteristics, Measures (Individuals)
Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics / Association canadienne de linguistique appliquee. Departement de langues, linguistique et traduction, Pavillon de Koninck, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada. Web site: http://www.aclacaal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A