Influences on learner attitudes towards foreign language and culture

There is an assumption in National Curriculum documentation that foreign language learning has beneficial effects on pupils' attitudes towards foreign people. Numerous studies have questioned the validity of this assumption, but there has been relatively little research into the determinants of learner attitudes. This paper presents results of research which investigates not only attitudes of GCSE learners towards French language and culture, but also learners' perceptions of factors which contribute to the formation of those attitudes. The findings indicate salient attitude differences according to gender and school type and point to some clearly perceived sources of significant influence on attitudes. Inside-school influences were seen to be stronger determinants of attitude than outside-school factors. The study's findings have implications for teachers, for authors of modern language textbooks and for the educational system.