When Words Don’t Come Easy
– an investigation of factors involved in the acquisition of English as a third language in ...
37 downloads
640 Views
6MB Size
Report
This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. If you own the copyright to this book and it is wrongfully on our website, we offer a simple DMCA procedure to remove your content from our site. Start by pressing the button below!
Report copyright / DMCA form
When Words Don’t Come Easy
– an investigation of factors involved in the acquisition of English as a third language in Denmark and Greenland
MA thesis by Camilla McCuiston and Stine Spellerberg Supervisors: Bent Preisler, the English Degree Programme, Department of Culture and Identity Arne Poulsen, the Psychology Degree Programme, Department of Psychology and Educational Studies Roskilde University, October 2006 The main body of the thesis comprises 296,479 characters corresponding to 123.5 standard pages.
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Regarding responsibility: As required, we will state who is primarily responsible for the individual parts of the report (not including introduction and conclusion). We would, however, like to stress that we consider this thesis report the product of a truly joint effort. Camilla McCuiston:
2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.1.1 (contents and limitations of the English test), 3.1.2, 3.4, 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.5, 3.5.7, 3.5.9, 4.1, 4.3 and 4.5.
Stine Spellerberg:
2.2, 2.4, 3.1.1 (contents and limitations of the pupil questionnaire), 3.1.3, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.6, 3.5.8, 3.5.10, 4.2, 4.4 and 4.6.
Regarding number of characters and standard pages: According to the rules for thesis reports, as specified by Psychology at Roskilde University, tables and figures count for the number of characters that could have appeared within the space taken up by the tables and figures. Space used for tables and figures has therefore been measured and converted to an approximate number of characters. The maximum number of standard pages allowed for this report is 125. Front page design by Cecilie von Haffner, vonnov grafisk design (www.vonnov.dk)
i
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Acknowledgements While giving a presentation on the English proficiency of bilingual pupils Professor Anne Holmen, Danish University of Education, unknowingly inspired us to write this thesis. We are most grateful for this inspiration and also wish to thank Professor Holmen for kindly providing us with the article version of her presentation prior to publication. Due to the empirical nature of our thesis, a great many people have one way or another been involved in the making of this thesis, for which we are very grateful. First of all, we wish to extend our warmest thanks to all pupils, teachers and schools who participated in our investigation. Without the time and effort provided by these individuals and institutions this thesis would not have been possible. Second, we wish to thank the donors who made it economically possible for us to conduct our investigation in Nuuk, Greenland. Without this support, we would most certainly not have been able to include Greenlandic respondents in our investigation. The donors in question are: the foundation Snedkermester Sophus Jacobsen og hustru Astrid Jacobsens Fond, the trust fund Garvermester C.W. Gerickes Legat and the Boards of Studies for Foreign Languages and for Psychology respectively. We furthermore wish to thank the Board of Studies for Foreign Languages for granting us five hours for statistical supervision by Gorm Hetmar, external lecturer, Psychology, Roskilde University. There are a number of people who have helped us with practical aspects of our thesis. Regarding the instruments of our investigation, we wish to thank Therese Hauge, Teaching Associate Professor, Roskilde University, for her invaluable advice in putting together an English test for our purpose. In relation to the test and the questionnaire, we wish to thank Eleonora Ketora Kristiane Jakobsen and Anne Katrine Brunk, Eskimology and Arctic Studies, University of Copenhagen, for kindly assisting us in translating glossaries of grammar terms and some other expressions into Greenlandic. With regard to assigning language scores, we wish to thank Professor Michael Fortescue, Department of General and Applied Linguistics, University of Copenhagen for his advice on the typology of Greenlandic; Thomas Olander, Ph.D., Department of East European Studies, University of Copenhagen, for his advice on Albanian typology and Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, Ph.D. in linguistics from the Université de Montréal, for his expert advice on Somali typology. Finally, we wish to thank Hartmut Haberland, Associate Professor of German, Department of Culture and Identity, Roskilde University for his advice on the typology of Greenlandic, Albanian and Somali as well as his comments on and critique of the applied language distance measure.
Camilla McCuiston & Stine Spellerberg
Copenhagen, October 2006
ii
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
List of Tables Table 1:
Overview of English education in Denmark and Greenland………………………….
8
Table 2:
Language groups based on British Foreign Service allowances………………………
21
Table 3:
Language groups based on duration of intensive language courses…………………..
21
Table 4:
Number of L2 and L3 respondents in Copenhagen and Nuuk………………………...
51
List of Figures Schematic representation of the concept of motivation as it relates to learning English as an additional language………...……………………………………………………...
31
Figure 2:
Pie chart of country of birth for Copenhagen L3 learners………………………………
52
Figure 3:
Pie chart of citizenship for Copenhagen L3 learners…….……………………………...
53
Figure 4:
Pie chart of sense of nationality for Copenhagen L3 learners……………………..........
54
Figure 5:
Pie chart of sense of nationality for Nuuk L3 learners...………………………………..
55
Figure 6:
Pie chart of the L1s of Copenhagen L3 learners…………….…………………………..
56
Figure 7:
Overall test results for Copenhagen respondents……………..…………………………
57
Figure 8:
Test assessment for Copenhagen respondents…………………..………………………
58
Figure 9:
Average results for each English test task, Copenhagen………………………………..
59
Figure 10: Overall test results for Nuuk respondents…………………………………………….....
60
Figure 11: Test assessment for Nuuk respondents……………………………………………….....
60
Figure 12: Average results for each English test task, Nuuk…………………………………….....
61
Figure 13: Self-reported English writing skills……………………………………………………..
62
Figure 14: Self-reported English reading skills……………………………………………………..
62
Figure 15: Test score means of groups based on self-reported English writing skills………...........
63
Figure 16: Test score means of groups based on self-reported English reading skills……………..
63
Figure 17: Mother’s highest level of education………………………………………………….....
64
Figure 1:
iii
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 18: Father’s highest level of education………………………………………………...........
64
Figure 19: Whether or not respondents receive the help they want or need with homework……………….................................................................................................
65
Figure 20: Number of years of received L1 education for Copenhagen L3 learners……………….
68
Figure 21: L3 respondents’ active use of L1 (L1 spoken)………………………………………….
69
Figure 22: L3 respondents’ active use of L1 (L1 thought in)……………………………………....
69
Figure 23: Self-reported L1 writing skills…………………………………………………….........
70
Figure 24: Self-reported L1 reading skills………………………………………………………….
70
Figure 25: Self-reported L2 writing skills……………………………………………………..........
71
Figure 26: Self-reported L2 reading skills………………………………………………………….
71
Figure 27: The various situations in which respondents code-switch……………………………....
72
Figure 28: The various persons with whom respondents code-switch……………………………...
73
Figure 29: Language distance between English and the respondents’ L1s………………………....
75
Figure 30: The percentage of respondents for each language distance………………………..........
76
Figure 31: The psychotypology of L3 respondents………………………………………………....
77
Figure 32: Study habits……………………………………………………………………………..
81
Figure 33: Test score means for groups based on study habits………………………………..........
82
Figure 34: How important respondents believe their parents find it that they learn English……….
83
Figure 35: Test score means for respondent attitudes towards the English language………..…......
85
Figure 36: Respondent attitudes towards English as school subject…………………………..........
87
Figure 37: Test score means for groups based on the degree to which respondents find English easy or difficult………………………………………………………………………….
88
Figure 38: Test score means for groups based on the degree to which L3 learners find English rough or smooth…………………………………………………………………………
89
Figure 39: Respondent attitudes towards the English classroom situation…………………………
92
Figure 40: Like learning new languages……………………………………………………………
94
Figure 41: Visiting another country………………………………………………………………...
94
iv
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 42: Important to know other languages………………………………………………..........
94
Figure 43: Plan to stay in another country………………………………………………………….
94
Figure 44: Reasons why respondents think that learning English can be important to them………
96
Figure 45: Motivational orientation………………………………………………………………...
97
Figure 46: Persons with whom English is regularly spoken…………………………………..........
99
Figure 47: Situations in which English is regularly thought in……………………………….......... 100 Figure 48: How often films watched are in English………………………………………………... 101 Figure 49: Time spent watching films……………………………………........................................ 101 Figure 50: How often TV programmes are watched in English……………………………………
102
Figure 51: Time spent watching TV programmes…………………………………………….........
102
Figure 52: How often music in English is listened to………………………………………………
103
Figure 53: Time spent listening to music……………………………………………………...........
103
Figure 54: How often the internet is used in English……………………………………………….
104
Figure 55: Time spent on the internet………………………………………………………………
104
Figure 56: How often respondents read in English…………………………………………………
105
Figure 57: Time spent reading……………………………………………………………………...
105
Figure 58: Overall test score means by gender………………………………………………..........
107
Figure 59: I like English as school subject by gender: Copenhagen L2 learners…………………... 108 Figure 60: I like English as school subject by gender: Copenhagen L3 learners…………………... 108 Figure 61: I like English as school subject by gender: Nuuk L3 learners…………………….......... 109 Figure 62: English classroom anxiety by gender: Copenhagen L2 learners…………………..........
110
Figure 63: English classroom anxiety by gender: Copenhagen L3 learners…………………..........
110
Figure 64: English classroom anxiety by gender: Nuuk L3 learners……………………………….
110
v
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Problem Definition.....................................................................................................................2 1.2 Motivation and field of interest..................................................................................................3 1.2.1 English in Denmark ............................................................................................................4 1.2.2 English in Greenland...........................................................................................................5 1.2.3 Denmark compared to Greenland .......................................................................................6 1.2.4 Target groups of the investigation ......................................................................................7 1.3 Definitions and delimitations .....................................................................................................8 1.4 Structure of the report ..............................................................................................................11
2. Theoretical Background .......................................................................................... 14 2.1 Second language acquisition versus third language acquisition ..............................................14 2.1.1 Linguistic interdependence ...............................................................................................16 2.1.2 Cross-linguistic influence .................................................................................................18 2.2 Typology and psychotypology.................................................................................................20 2.2.1 Typology ...........................................................................................................................21 2.2.2 Psychotypology.................................................................................................................24 2.3 Metalinguistic Awareness ........................................................................................................25 2.3.1 Metalinguistic knowledge .................................................................................................26 2.3.2 Metalinguistic abilities......................................................................................................26 2.3.3 Metalinguistic awareness ..................................................................................................26 2.4 Motivation................................................................................................................................30 2.4.1 Attitudes ............................................................................................................................31 2.4.2 Orientation ........................................................................................................................32 2.4.3 Anxiety..............................................................................................................................34 2.5 Usage and exposure .................................................................................................................35
3. The Empirical Investigation .................................................................................... 38 3.1 Methodological approach.........................................................................................................38 3.1.1 Instruments: Pupil questionnaire and English test ............................................................38 3.1.2 Instructions........................................................................................................................45 3.1.3 Interviews..........................................................................................................................45 3.2 Statistical method.....................................................................................................................46 3.3 Reliability and validity.............................................................................................................49 3.4 The respondents .......................................................................................................................50 3.4.1 Background variables........................................................................................................51
vi
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
3.5 Results......................................................................................................................................56 3.5.1 Copenhagen test results.....................................................................................................57 3.5.2 Nuuk test results................................................................................................................59 3.5.3 English literacy skills in relation to English test score .....................................................61 3.5.4 Socio-economic background.............................................................................................63 3.5.5 Analyses in relation to hypothesis A ................................................................................66 3.5.6 Analyses in relation to hypothesis B.................................................................................74 3.5.7 Analyses in relation to hypothesis C.................................................................................78 3.5.8 Analyses in relation to hypothesis D ................................................................................79 3.5.9 Analyses in relation to hypothesis E .................................................................................98 3.5.10 Additional findings .......................................................................................................107
4. Discussion.............................................................................................................. 112 4.1 Linguistic interdependence ....................................................................................................112 4.2 Typology and psychotypology...............................................................................................116 4.3 Metalinguistic knowledge ......................................................................................................118 4.4 Motivation..............................................................................................................................120 4.5 Usage of and exposure to English..........................................................................................122 4.6 Gender-based differences.......................................................................................................123 4.7 The importance of ensuring good English skills....................................................................124 4.8 Ensuring appropriate English skills for L3 learners in Denmark and Greenland ..................125
5. Conclusion............................................................................................................. 127 6. Resumé (Summary in Danish) .............................................................................. 131 7. Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 133 8. Appendices ............................................................................................................ 140 Appendix A: Questionnaire (DK version) Appendix B: Questionnaire (GL version) Appendix C: English test (including sources and correct answers) Appendix D: English test (DK version) Appendix E: English test (GL version) Appendix F: Interview I (in Danish) Appendix G: Interview II (in Danish) Appendix H: Statistical output
vii
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction ________________________________________________________________________________ Although multilingualism is the reality of everyday life for the majority of people in the world, it is often believed that monolinguals outnumber multilinguals. Most countries in the world are in fact multilingual in the sense that more than one language is spoken natively within their borders. There are less than 200 independent countries in the world (Skutnabb-Kangas, 1988), but the number of known living languages is close to 7,000 (Gordon, 2005). Some factors behind the growth of multilingualism are for instance migration, the presence of former colonial powers and the role of English as the world’s lingua franca (Jessner, 2006). English is the most widely used language in the world today. Although it is difficult to assess the exact number of English users, it is estimated that 370 million people are native speakers of English. Approximately the same number of people speak English as their second language or employ English as lingua franca for various purposes. Approximately 700 million people speak English as a foreign language (Brick-Hansen, 2002). English is increasingly used as the means of wider communication. It is the increasing power of the United States in particular that explains why English continues to be the most spoken language on a global scale. In the European context, English is becoming the European Union’s second language (Cenoz & Jessner, 2000). In comparison with other European countries, the English language has gained a particularly high status in the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia. The high status of English can be explained by several factors including the small size of these countries, the dependence on international trade and the influence from British and American music, films and TV-programmes (which are not dubbed, but subtitled). Due to the increased spread and use of the English language, proficiency in English brings the promise of material gain, higher status and further prospects of mobility (Hofmann, 2000). Concurrently with the development of English as the lingua franca of today’s globalised world, it becomes important to examine the acquisition processes of English as it is highly likely that these matters will become increasingly pertinent in the future. As monolinguals cannot be considered the
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
norm in an increasingly multilingual world, it is relevant to investigate possible differences between monolingual and bilingual groups’ experiences of learning English. As stated by Bialystok, there are differences between language learning for mono- and bilinguals, as “[m]onolingual and bilingual children move in different cognitive worlds, experience different linguistic environments, and are challenged to communicate using different resources, remaining sensitive to different abstract dimensions” (Bilaystok, 2001: 88). A comparison of the experiences of monolinguals and bilinguals acquiring English will shed light on factors that may hinder or further the acquisition of a new language. This thesis will concern an empirical investigation of possible factors involved in the acquisition of English for pupils in Copenhagen, Denmark and Nuuk, Greenland. The focus will be on the acquisition of English as a third language in the two cities, but a monolingual group in Copenhagen will serve as a control group. By comparing monolingual pupils in Copenhagen with bilingual pupils in Copenhagen and Nuuk, it becomes possible to investigate how learning English as a third language differs from learning English as a second language. By comparing pupils across the two countries, it is possible to discuss how learning English in a monolingual versus a bilingual context may influence the acquisition process.
1.1 Problem Definition Through their experiences of learning more than one language, bilinguals supposedly acquire more language learning strategies than monolinguals. In theory, these strategies make bilinguals better language learners than monolinguals. Moreover, in comparison to monolinguals, bilingual learners’ metalinguistic awareness ought to be enhanced, facilitating the acquisition of additional languages. Bilingual groups of pupils in Denmark who are immigrants or descendents thereof seem to be an example of these theoretical claims not always holding true. In this thesis, we wish to examine whether bilingual pupils learning English as a third language in Copenhagen and Nuuk are advantaged compared to monolinguals learning English as a second language. This will be done by examining how monolinguals and bilinguals differ in their acquisition of English. By comparing monolingual and bilingual groups’ linguistic backgrounds, experiences, motivation and proficiency in English, we hope to uncover possible explanations for the successful or unsuccessful acquisition of English as a third language. The main question of our thesis is as follows: •
What factors are pertinent to the successful acquisition of English as a third language?
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In order to answer our main question, we will examine some of the factors that are considered important in third language acquisition guided by the following questions: a)
What role does linguistic interdependence play in the acquisition of English as a third language?
b)
How does typological distance between the first language and English affect the acquisition of English as a third language?
c)
How does metalinguistic knowledge affect the level of English proficiency?
d)
How is motivation for learning English related to level of English proficiency?
e)
Is usage of and exposure to English outside the formal language learning context related to the respondents’ level of English proficiency?
1.2 Motivation and field of interest Research suggests that bilinguals are advantaged in learning additional languages in comparison to their monolingual counterparts (e.g. Peal & Lambert, 1962; Thomas, 1988). In Denmark, however, it appears that bilingual minority pupils have difficulties learning English. A recent investigation by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute (EVA, 2003) shows that an easily discernible group of pupils who lag behind in their English skills are minority pupils who come from homes in which other languages than Danish or English is spoken. The investigation concludes that there is a considerable variation in the minority pupils’ English proficiency: “A disproportionately large group performs considerably below average whereas a smaller group is at the upper third or fourth. Thus there are trends towards an educational A and B team for this “foreign language” group” (Alabau et al., 2002: 114). While bilingualism is generally considered to be an advantage when learning additional languages, this does not seem to hold true for linguistic minority pupils in Denmark. One explanation that has been offered as to why bilingual pupils may experience difficulties in learning English is that the
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
pupils lack cognitive capacity. As English is their third language, the acquisition of English demands brain capacity that is already ‘in demand’ by the first two languages. However, as Holmen suggests, this explanation does not correspond with knowledge on third language acquisition: Tanken om, at elevers problemer med at lære et nyt sprog skyldes kapacitetsproblemer i hjernen, kan forekomme umiddelbart logisk for den person, der er vokset op med ét sprog, og som selv har oplevet det hårde arbejde forbundet med at udvikle en sikker beherskelse af et fremmedsprog. Tanken stemmer imidlertid meget dårligt med vores viden om, hvordan sprogtilegnelse finder sted. Ifølge denne burde det være en fordel at være tosproget ved mødet med skolens første fremmedsprog, fordi man qua sin tosprogethed har flere erfaringer med sprog og sprogtilegnelse. (Holmen, 2006: 35)
Thus, other factors than cognitive issues must lie at the root of the minority groups’ poor performance in English. As outlined above, there is a contradiction between theory, namely that bilinguals should be advantaged in learning additional languages compared to monolinguals, and reality, that bilingual pupils in Denmark are less successful in their acquisition of English than their monolingual peers. It is this contradiction between theory and reality that has motivated us to write this thesis.
1.2.1 English in Denmark In a small country such as Denmark, the national language, Danish, is more or less only employed within the country’s national borders. In order to communicate with the outside world, other languages have to come into play. Languages such as German or French, for instance, could fulfil this communication purpose, but more recently ‘other languages’ is more or less equal to the English language as English has become the lingua franca of international communication. In 1937, English and German were introduced as school subjects in the Danish Folkeskole 1 for pupils in the cities. Pupils in rural areas were not offered the same opportunity for learning foreign languages until 1958. During the same year, English became compulsory from year six. In 1988, it was proposed that Danish pupils should start learning English in year four. The proposal was adopted in 1994, and English became compulsory from year four (Skovgaard-Petersen, 2002). Although the teaching of English was given higher priority in the shape of teaching hours over the
1
Municipal primary and lower-secondary school.
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
years, Denmark still did not prioritise English as much as the other Nordic countries, or the rest of Europe for that matter. In most of these countries, pupils began learning English at an earlier age, often at the age of eight or nine (Brick-Hansen, 2002). In Denmark, this did not happen until 2004 when pupils began receiving English education from year three (Danish Ministry of Education, 2000). Although there are spheres of Danish society where English is neither used nor valued, this is the language which – besides Danish – appears to be generally valued in Denmark. This can be seen through the increasing influence from English in Danish and the increasing use of English in particular domains, for instance in higher education and business (Preisler, 2003). It is a general assumption or claim in Danish society that Danes’ level of English is very high. While this is the case for some Danes, it is a fact that many Danes only have basic skills in English, and others are not able to communicate in English. The assumption that all Danes speak English, combined with the fact that many do, leads to the expectation that pupils already have basic skills in English before they begin their formal English education in year four (Holmen, 2006; Preisler, 1999). This is a problem for those pupils who do not have prior knowledge of English as they are behind from the very first lesson. While there will be a small number of pupils who are not motivated or able to learn English, there are others who are able but simply never receive the help necessary to catch up. The gap between those who have and those who do not have prior knowledge of English is considerable and it seems that teachers are not able to accommodate these various levels of English skills in their teaching.
1.2.2 English in Greenland In Greenland, learning Danish has for many years perhaps overshadowed the importance of learning English as a result of the Danish colonisation of Greenland (from 1721-1979) (Bro, 1993). If Greenlanders wished to educate themselves beyond the nine compulsory years in the Greenlandic Folkeskole, they often had to go to Denmark in order to do so, which is partly still the case today. In 1976, the National Congress of Greenland discussed whether or not English should be part of the Folkeskole curriculum (Jensen, 1977). It was decided that English should be offered, and since 1980 English could be offered from year seven till nine, whilst it must be offered in year ten and eleven (Greenland Home Rule, 1979). English became compulsory from year seven till nine in 1988
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
(Greenland Home Rule, 1988). Today, year ten pupils in the Greenlandic Fokeskole have received English education from year seven, while the amount of English education has been extended for the younger generations. In Greenland, English is recognised as being an important means of communication with the world outside of Greenland and Denmark. Greenlanders realise that if they wish to be independent of Denmark, their former colonial power, they need to direct their attention towards the international community, and this requires a certain level of English skills. Language policy and independency of Denmark are very sensitive subjects in Greenland. An argument in favour of English taking the place of Danish, which is taught as the first foreign language in the Greenlandic Folkeskole today, is that English can lead to independency of Denmark and strengthen internationalisation, including business developments (Gad, 2004).
1.2.3 Denmark compared to Greenland Denmark and Greenland are part of the same kingdom, which entails a number of similar conditions. For our purpose, these similarities concern the school system, the use of Danish in many contexts (including school) and the importance placed on English as foreign language. Although English is defined as a foreign language with no official status in both Denmark and Greenland, the importance of learning English is recognised in both countries. As Preisler explains with regards to Denmark: As a school subject, English is highly prestigious as a key to participation in the internationalization process. The importance of learning English is recognized even by those whose knowledge of English is limited or nonexistent (the English-have-nots), though the latter are made to experience some of the problems of the functionally illiterate by the increasing use of English words and passages in Danish texts (Preisler, 2003: 109).
Apart from the mentioned similarities, there are also linguistic differences between Denmark and Greenland. Greenland, and Nuuk in particular, is to a large degree a bilingual society. Pupils either learn Danish or Greenlandic as their first language, they sometimes learn Danish or Greenlandic as their second language (some do not) and English as their second or third language. Thus, the Greenlandic learner of English as a third language lives in a bilingual community where Greenlandic and Danish is spoken by most. In comparison, Denmark is mainly a monolingual
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
society, although English is gradually changing status from a foreign to a second language – at least for the majority of the younger generation of ethnic Danes. In Denmark, there is an immigrant population representing a broad range of minority languages such as Turkish, Arabic and Albanian. Immigrant pupils often learn Danish as their second language (some regard Danish as their first) and English as their third language. For the immigrant pupils, English remains a foreign rather than a second language, as they are less exposed to English prior to commencement of formal English instruction (Holmen, 2006). Thus, the learner of English as a third language in Denmark lives in a country where the majority is monolingual, and where bi- or multilinguals have a wide range of different mother tongues. In summation, pupils learning English as a third language in Nuuk and Copenhagen have the following in common: they have Danish as their first or second language and are in the process of learning English as a foreign language in a similar school context.
1.2.4 Target groups of the investigation Our chosen target group is pupils in their last year of compulsory schooling. In Denmark, these pupils are year nine pupils. As Danish year nine pupils correspond to year ten pupils in Greenland, regarding age and number of years of education, our target group in Nuuk is year ten pupils. Danish year nine and Greenlandic year ten pupils are in their final years of the common educational system, the Folkeskole. Therefore, the English education our target groups have received is what the general populations in Denmark and Greenland receive as a minimum. We have chosen to carry out our investigation in the capitals of Denmark and Greenland. Copenhagen has the largest concentration of bilingual Folkeskole pupils in Denmark and Nuuk is simply the only city in Greenland with a sufficient population size for our purpose. Education is compulsory for nine years in both Denmark and Greenland, starting from the year the child turns six in Greenland and the year the child turns seven in Denmark. The majority of children attend Folkeskole, public school. The Danish Folkeskole comprises an optional pre-school year, nine compulsory years and an optional tenth year. Although optional, 98% of all children attend the pre-school year (Danish Ministry of Education, 2002). As illustrated in Table 1, the Copenhagen pupils have received English lessons from year four onwards and have three English lessons per week in year nine. The Nuuk pupils receive education according to the so-called ‘old regulations’, namely the home rule parliament’s regulations concerning the Folkeskole from 1997 (Greenland Home Rule, 1997).
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Age
Denmark Greenland English English Year Lessons/week Year lessons/week
Pre-school class
2 3 3 3 3 3
6 0 1 7 2 8 3 9 Primary 4 10 and lower 5 11 secondary 6 12 education 7 13 8 14 9 Target group 15 One school lesson = 45 minutes.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 8 3 9 3 10 3/4* * Ordinary/extended
Table 1: Overview of English education in Denmark and Greenland
In appliance with the ‘old regulations’, the Nuuk pupils are in their fourth year of English education. From year seven till nine all pupils have three English lessons per week. Following the old regulations, pupils choose between two curriculum tracks in year ten and eleven: ordinary and extended. Although the school does give recommendations as to which track the individual pupil is best suited for, it is ultimately the parents’ decision. The chosen track affects the amount of English teaching as year ten classes following the ordinary track have three English lessons per week, whereas year ten extended classes have four English lessons per week. Furthermore, for year ten pupils following the ordinary track English is not a compulsory school subject. In practice, however, most year ten pupils following the ordinary track (in Nuuk at least) have English.
1.3 Definitions and delimitations Second and third language acquisition are often complex matters to investigate as many scholars use similar terms for different phenomena or different terms for the same phenomena. Scholars often refer to bilinguals as individuals who are proficient in at least two languages, but they disagree on when bilinguals can in fact be considered bilingual. Some claim that in order to be considered bilingual one needs to be equally proficient, or at least close to, in both of one’s languages, whereas others believe that knowing a few utterances in the second language is sufficient. These differing positions have brought about a number of attempts to propose accurate definitions of bilinguals such as coordinate bilinguals, compound bilinguals, ambilinguals, semilinguals, or even double semilinguals. In spite of all these attempts there is no widely accepted
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
definition of the concept of bilingualism. Perhaps Bialystok describes the problems of defining bilingualism best: … bilingualism is not a categorical variable. Any assignment of children to a group labeled either bilingual or monolingual is an obfuscation of the complexity of the concept of bilingualism and a diminishment of the intricacy of children’s language skills. Bilingualism is not like age, or gender, or grade, or any of the usual variables we use to classify children in developmental research. At best, bilingualism is a scale, moving from virtually no awareness that other languages exist to complete fluency in two languages. At what point on this scale do we declare children to be bilingual? How do we conduct research on the impact of a variable that we struggle to define? (Bialystok, 2001: 8)
We will not enter into the debate on how various terms should be defined or redefined as we recognise that it is difficult if not impossible to appropriately define bilingualism and thus bilinguals. At the same time, it seems questionable to employ the term ‘bilingualism’ without defining its meaning. As we are unable to judge to what extent our respondents can be considered bilingual, we will leave it to the pupils in our investigation to group themselves. If the pupils state English as their third language, we will consider them bilingual as they have already acquired two languages and are in the process of learning English as their third. If the pupils state English as their second language, we consider them monolingual as these pupils have acquired one language and are in the process of learning their second. Thus, ‘bilingual’ in this thesis refers to an individual who believes that he or she knows two languages (besides English) irrespective of the individual’s proficiency level in these two languages. ‘Monolingual’, on the other hand, refers to someone who feels that he or she knows one language (besides English). The common denominator for monolingual and bilingual individuals is that each of them have a mother tongue. Defining a mother tongue, however, may be complicated. According to SkutnabbKangas (1988), a mother tongue can be defined in various ways. A mother tongue can be defined according to ‘origin’, ‘competence’, ‘function’ and ‘identification’. Origin refers to the language or languages one acquired first. Competence refers to the language or languages one knows best and function refers to the language or languages one uses most. Identification can be internal, meaning the language or languages one identifies with, or external, meaning the language or languages one is identified as a native speaker of by others. When our respondents state their mother tongue, they may have either of these definitions in mind or perhaps a combination of two or more of them. For
9
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
instance, a Copenhagen respondent may feel that Danish is the language he or she knows best, but still decide to state Turkish as his or her mother tongue as this is the language that he or she acquired first and identifies with internally and/or externally. By the same token, a respondent in Nuuk may have learnt Greenlandic first, but state Danish as his or her mother tongue as this is the language he or she uses most. In relation to her definitions of mother tongue, Skutnabb-Kangas suggests that a person can have more than one mother tongue depending on how it is defined and that a person’s mother tongue can change several times during his or her lifetime. It is plausible that some of our respondents in Nuuk, for instance, have both Greenlandic and Danish as their mother tongue or have changed mother tongues in order to accommodate educational and social needs (having Danish teachers and classmates, for instance). As one’s mother tongue is a personal matter, we have asked the respondents in our investigation to state the language they consider their mother tongue as to make sure that it is their perceptions that are reflected in their answers. The drawback of this approach is of course that we cannot be sure which of the definitions the respondents have in mind when stating their mother tongue. According to Seeberg (1995), for instance, many minority pupils in Denmark who have a different mother tongue than Danish often consider this language their first language even if they are better at their second language, Danish. In accordance with current terminology, we will henceforth refer to the participants’ various languages as L1 (first language/mother tongue), L2 (second language) and L3 (third language). For the most part, we will refer to our respondents as L2 learners and L3 learners. L2 learners denote respondents who have Danish as their L1 and are in the process of learning English as their L2, while L3 learners denote respondents with various L1s and L2s who are in the process of learning English as their L3. Our reason for referring to our respondents as learners is to emphasise that they are in the process of learning English. We will occasionally also use the terms ‘monolingual’ and ‘bilingual’, for instance when making general statements concerning the differences between having one or two languages when learning an additional language. While we refer to the respondents as learners, we will use the terms learning and acquisition interchangeably, although some scholars differentiate between the two. Krashen (1981), for instance, defines learning as involving a conscious awareness of language rules, while acquisition takes place as a result of participating in authentic communication. We recognise that there is a
10
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
difference between Krashen’s definitions, but we do not necessarily agree with his strict use of the terms. In summary, the following terms will be used throughout the report: L1:
first language (mother tongue)
L2:
second language
L3:
third language
L2 learner:
learner in the process of learning English as L2
L3 learner:
learner in the process of learning English as L3
A thesis with the presented field of interest could take many directions. One could focus on pedagogical issues, social conditions, issues of intelligence and aptitude or the relationship between language and identity. While realising that these issues are important and relevant matters, we will refrain from treating them in the present thesis. Although these issues will not form a great part of this report, they may be touched upon if this proves relevant. Our focus is on English as a third language and our respondents’ acquisition of and attitudes towards learning English, which we will examine through an empirical investigation.
1.4 Structure of the report The report is overall structured according to questions a to e in our problem definition. Guided by these questions, theoretical aspects and previous research are presented, resulting in hypotheses A to E. The hypotheses, in turn, guide the analyses as well as the discussion of the results of our investigation. Each hypothesis will be confirmed or rejected through statistical analyses. By tying in the questions in the introduction with the hypotheses in the theoretical framework and the analyses of the results, we seek to create coherence throughout the report. In chapter 2, we will discuss essential theories and previous research relevant to our investigation. The purpose of the chapter is to create a theoretical framework within which to discuss our findings. First, some vital differences between second and third language acquisition will be outlined in order to demonstrate the complexity involved in third language acquisition. Second, we will present theories concerning linguistic interdependence, metalinguistic awareness, cross-linguistic influence,
11
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
typology, psychotypology and motivation as all these factors are said to influence the acquisition of a third language. In presenting linguistic interdependence, we will focus on how a language learner’s various languages may affect the acquisition of an additional language as suggested by Cummins in his ‘developmental interdependence’ hypothesis. Subsequently, the concept of crosslinguistic influence will be introduced. We have not examined this matter thoroughly in our investigation and thus will only give a brief presentation of the concept. The theoretical claims put forward concerning linguistic interdependence and cross-linguistic influence will be clarified by providing examples of previous research that show how languages may interact and influence one another. In presenting language typology, we will mainly employ Chiswick & Millers’ linguistic distance measure as a way of measuring how typological differences between a language learner’s L1 and English may affect the acquisition of English. Concerning psychotypology, we will use Kellerman who was the first to differentiate between ‘actual’ and perceived typological distance. The theories concerning typology and psychotypology will be supported by research examples. Subsequently to presenting linguistic and typological matters, we will attend to metalinguistic issues by employing Bialystok’s theory of metalinguistic awareness and the operational aspects involved. We will distinguish between metalinguistic knowledge, metalinguistic abilities and metalinguistic awareness. Motivational factors will be attended to next, primarily as defined by Gardner and Lambert. We will present various aspects of motivation such as attitudes towards learning, the desire to learn and the motivational orientation of learning. We will also include anxiety in the classroom situation as anxiety is seen as interrelated with motivational factors. Finally, we will deal with usage of and exposure to a target language. Although we find it evident that these two factors may affect target language achievement, and perhaps for this very reason, we have not come across L3 acquisition theory which goes into details about the role played by usage and exposure. Nonetheless, we will include usage and exposure as we expect that these factors influence the acquisition of a target language.
12
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In chapter 3, we will present the methodological approach to our empirical investigation as well as the instruments used (questionnaire and English test) and the instructions given to the respondents. We will also present the statistical method that will be employed in the analysis of our results and discuss the reliability and validity of the present investigation. Subsequently, the respondents in the investigation will be introduced by delineating relevant background variables. The results of our investigation will then be presented. As one may come across findings one did not expect, we will include additional findings that are relevant to the investigation although not borne out of our hypotheses. In chapter 4, we will discuss the results of the investigation in relation to our theoretical framework. Each hypothesis and problematic issues concerning our method will be discussed and we will consider how one could have yielded different results in an investigation of this kind. In chapter 5, our final conclusion will be presented. The questions posed in our problem definition will be answered based on our theoretical framework and the results of our investigation. Finally, we will answer our main question concerning factors pertinent to the successful acquisition of English as a third language.
13
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Theoretical Background ________________________________________________________________________________ In this section, we will outline some of the significant factors in acquiring a new language, paying special attention to the factors involved in third language acquisition.
2.1 Second language acquisition versus third language acquisition Language learning is generally a complex matter due to numerous factors involved that may either hinder or further the acquisition process depending on prevailing circumstances. As three languages are involved in third language acquisition, more factors come into play in this process than in first or second language learning. The more languages involved, the more complex the subject matter. Although second language acquisition is fairly well-explored in linguistics, third language acquisition is of rather new research interest, suggesting that further investigation is needed to identify the specific characteristics of processing several languages. Scholars generally agree that certain similarities between second and third language acquisition exist, but it is often emphasised that the two acquisition processes differ in complexity: One of the main (and obvious) characteristics of TLA [third language acquisition] in contrast to SLA [second language acquisition] which has been pointed out in studies concentrating on the differences between SLA and TLA is the greater complexity of TLA. Because of the enormous number of factors involved in SLA it is regarded as a complex process per se […] and can be approached from psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic and educational perspectives (Jessner, 2006: 16).
A third language evidently adds to the complexity of language acquisition as the individual factors involved in the acquisition process are manifold. In second language acquisition, the L2 can be acquired after the L1, L1 → L2, or simultaneously, L1 + L2. However, in third language acquisition, at least four acquisition orders are possible as identified by Cenoz (2000): 1. The learner acquires all three languages consecutively, L1 → L2 → L3 2. The learner acquires all three languages simultaneously, L1 + L2 + L3 3. The learner acquires two languages simultaneously after the acquisition of the L1, L1 → L2 + L3 4. The learner acquires L1 and L2 simultaneously before learning the L3, L1 + L2 → L3
14
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
The acquisition process may not necessarily be continuous as it is possible that the process can be interrupted, for instance by the acquisition of another language, and later resumed (for instance L1 → L2 → L3 → L2). This possible interruption and resuming can occur with all three languages involved. When including the contexts in which language learning can take place, the complexity increases even further. The contexts in which language acquisition takes place are either naturalistic or formal, or a combination of both (Jessner, 2006). If we apply the possible acquisition orders and the possible contexts of acquisition to our respondents, it becomes evident that the conditions for language learning differ for L2 learners and L3 learners. The L2 learners in our investigation have acquired their two languages consecutively. They have started by learning Danish at home, a naturalistic context, and later at school, a formal context. At the time of our investigation, they are in the process of learning English formally at school. The L3 learners in our investigation have either acquired all of their three languages consecutively (L1 → L2 → L3), or they have acquired their L1 and L2 simultaneously before learning their L3 (L1 + L2 → L3). In Copenhagen, the L3 learners have all learnt Danish both in a formal and in a naturalistic context. Whether or not they have acquired their other language in a formal as well as a naturalistic context differs as not all respondents have received mother tongue education (supplement tuition in the foreign language pupil’s mother tongue). In Nuuk, all respondents have received L1 and L2 education at school (Danish and Greenlandic) if they have attended school in Nuuk. Some of the Nuuk respondents may come from small settlements where they perhaps have only had limited formal instruction in Danish and not used the language in a naturalistic context. Common to all our respondents, however, is that they are receiving formal instruction in English, at school, and that they have not acquired this language in a naturalistic context. In second language acquisition research it is often assumed that the bilingual language learner’s L1 is the dominant language and the L2 is the weaker language. This is not always true for multilinguals and may not apply to our respondents. The chronological order of the languages one acquires does not necessarily correspond to the dominance of these languages. In other words, the language one learns first is not necessarily the language one considers one’s L1 (Jessner, 2006; Skutnabb-Kangas, 1988).
15
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
2.1.1 Linguistic interdependence There appears to be a consensus among scholars that the language learner’s various languages are interdependent and may influence one another (e.g. Ringbom, 1987; Cenoz, 2003; Herdina & Jessner, 2002). The acquisition of additional languages results in a qualitative change for the language learner due to the fact that “as the whole psycholinguistic system adapts to meet new psychological and social requirements, it also changes its nature” (Herdina & Jessner, 2002: 92). These qualitative changes are more pronounced in L3 learners than L2 learners as they have an additional language influencing their linguistic system. In third language acquisition one needs to consider the relationship between L1 and L2, as in second language acquisition, and furthermore that between L1 and L3 and that between L2 and L3. When the language learner acquires a new language, he or she develops new skills that become part of his or her linguistic repertoire and affect the overall linguistic system by creating new links and relationships. The linguistic system becomes restructured which results in the development of additional skills and learning techniques deriving from the language learner’s previous language-learning experience (Herdina & Jessner, 2002). This assumption has been developed by Cummins (1979) in his ‘developmental interdependence’ hypothesis. Cummins states that a learner’s competence or proficiency in his or her L2 is partly dependent on the level of proficiency already achieved in the L1. As learners are able to transfer skills from their L1 to their L2 there is an important relationship between the L1 and the L2. If the learner’s L1 proficiency is highly developed, this will positively affect the acquisition of the L2, whereas if the L1 proficiency is poorly developed this will influence the acquisition of the L2 negatively. Although Cummins focuses on the relationship between the L1 and the L2, we believe that his hypothesis can be extended to also include L3. As a language learner’s various languages supposedly interact and influence one another, we suggest that L1 and/or L2 proficiency may also affect L3 proficiency. Some studies have detected a relationship between L3 learners’ languages, although focusing on differing aspects. One study that investigates the possible interaction between a language learner’s languages was conducted by Thomas (1988). Thomas reported that formal education in L1 and L2 may prove important in relation to L3 proficiency. In her study, college students bilingual in English and Spanish outperformed monolingual English students when learning French in a formal context. Her results indicate that students with prior knowledge of Spanish performed significantly better than their monolingual counterparts on vocabulary (recognition of cognates) and grammar
16
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
tests (selecting a grammatically appropriate closure for a sentence stem). Moreover, the data show that the ten English-Spanish bilingual students who reported that they had received at least two years of formal instruction in Spanish (biliterate bilinguals) performed significantly better on the grammar test than did the six English-Spanish bilingual students who reported that they came from a Spanish-speaking or a bilingual home, but had never received formal instruction in Spanish (monoliterate bilinguals). Thomas’s results not only support the notion that bilinguals have a facility for learning an additional language, they also indicate that formal instruction in the language learners’ related languages may enhance metalinguistic awareness and eventually overall language proficiency. However, one should keep in mind that Thomas’s conclusions are based on only 16 bilingual and ten monolingual college students. If Thomas’s findings apply to the target groups of our investigation, the respondents who have received extensive formal instruction in their L1 and/or L2 will have a higher level of English proficiency than respondents who have received little formal instruction in their L1 and/or L2. A study that examines an aspect of the relationship between L1 proficiency and L3 proficiency was conducted by Swain et al. (1990). In this study, Swain et al. investigate the role that heritage language literacy plays in relation to L3 acquisition and proficiency. 16 MSSB 2 grade 8 classes were included in the study and 319 pupils participated in all. Results reveal that literacy in the L1 (heritage language) has a strong positive impact on learning French as an L3 in a bilingual school programme, whereas L1 use without literacy has little effect. Therefore, being literate in one’s L1 is supposed to have a positive effect on L3 acquisition. Another aspect of the influence of the L1 on L3 proficiency was reported in a Swedish investigation from 1982 conducted by Balke-Aurell & Lindblad (cited in Mägiste, 1984). This nation-wide investigation compares year eight immigrant pupils (N=2,736) with Swedish monolingual pupils (N=67,162) in relation to English proficiency. Results indicate that immigrant pupils who always use Swedish at home but have a passive knowledge of their L1 performed better in English than Swedish monolingual pupils. Those immigrant pupils who use their L1 actively on a daily basis performed slightly poorer in English than Swedish monolingual pupils. Thus, passive bilingualism (passive use of the L1) appears to facilitate the acquisition of an L3, while active bilingualism 2
MSSB (Metropolitan Separate School Board) is a bilingual programme in Toronto. The MSSB initially instruct the pupils through English, but from grade 5 the pupils are given instruction in English half of the school day, while instruction is given in French for the other half of the school day.
17
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
(active daily use of the L1) may delay the acquisition of a third language. Mägiste explains the findings as being a consequence of interference (the concept of interference will be elaborated in 2.1.2): It appears that a potential for interference increases with the number of languages a student knows. A language that is known only passively does not give rise to interference in the same sense. On the contrary, passive command of a language means that the student has acquired the technique of learning another language, which obviously improves the learning of additional languages. (Mägiste, 1984: 420)
By focusing primarily on one language while knowing the other language latently, pupils achieve positive transfer effects. The investigation is not only interesting because it shows that active or passive L1 use may affect L3 proficiency; it is also relevant to the present thesis as results derive from a large-scale investigation carried out among pupils of a similar age group to the respondents in our investigation. As suggested by the results from the three investigations above, the languages already acquired by a language learner may influence the acquisition of a third language. The mechanisms that are at play when languages interact and influence one another are overall referred to as cross-linguistic influence.
2.1.2 Cross-linguistic influence Cross-linguistic influence occurs during both second and third language acquisition. Scholars disagree about the features involved in cross-linguistic influence and how to define them. Crosslinguistic influence includes features or phenomena such as transfer, interference and codeswitching. Transfer involves incorporating elements from one language to another. In case of similarities between language structures, transfer is assumed to have a positive influence on language acquisition. While transfer is seen as having a positive influence on the acquisition process, interference is often characterised as its negative counterpart. Interference can be defined as the involuntary influence of one language on the other (Grosjean, 1982: 299). As opposed to transfer and interference, borrowing and code-switching are generally considered conscious learning strategies. Borrowing can be described as a learning strategy used by language learners as for instance borrowing content words from another language in order to bridge a lexical gap. Code-
18
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
switching can be defined as the alternate use of two or more languages in the same utterance or conversation and may involve a word, a phrase or a whole sentence. Code-switching may also occur between language styles or dialects, but for our purpose, it is code-switching between languages that is of relevance. Code-switching differs from borrowing as the switched element is not integrated phonologically and morphologically. Code-switching is a common characteristic of bilingual speech and is often used as a verbal communicative strategy to convey linguistic and social information and ultimately as a marker of group membership. The social situation and the speaker’s own purposes are therefore determining factors in code-switching (Trudgill, 1974). In a study by Normann Jørgensen (2002), results show that bilingual pupils who are considered best at Danish (as evaluated by adult native Danes) are those pupils who code-switch most. It should be noted that although the results are only based on ten pupils, more than 100 adults evaluated the spoken Danish of these ten pupils. If code-switching can be considered relevant in relation to L2 proficiency (as in Normann Jørgensen’s study), we believe that code-switching may also prove relevant in relation to L3 proficiency. In our investigation, we will therefore seek to determine whether there is a positive relationship between the extent of code-switching and the level of English proficiency. Several factors may predict and influence cross-linguistic influence one of which is proficiency level. There appears to be a consensus among researchers that transfer is more likely to occur at lower levels of proficiency. One possible explanation for this is that language learners often draw on their L1 when lacking the linguistic means to express themselves in their L2 or L3. The more proficient the language learner is in his or her L2 or L3, the less he or she perhaps needs to draw on the L1. Studies have also reported that older language learners may transfer more elements from their other languages to their L3 than younger language learners. Cenoz (2001) conducted a study including 90 school children (year two, six and nine) of different L1 backgrounds (Basque or Spanish) who had had four years of L3 English instruction. Results indicate that older children are more likely to transfer elements from their L1 and L2 to their L3, despite the fact that they are more proficient in English than the younger children. Cenoz explains the differences between the older and younger children’s performance as a result of a higher metalinguistic awareness (metalinguistic awareness will be elaborated in 2.3) among the older children, which makes transfer possible. Thus, in the case of third language acquisition, proficiency level in all of the language learner’s languages may prove relevant in relation to cross-linguistic influence.
19
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
We have illustrated how a language learner’s languages may interact and influence one another and how cross-linguistic influence may affect the acquisition process. On the basis of these various factors it becomes relevant to investigate aspects of our respondents’ already acquired languages in relation to their acquisition of English. We will seek to determine whether their level of English proficiency may be related to the languages they already know and therefore propose the following hypothesis, corresponding to question a in our problem definition: Hypothesis A: Linguistic interdependence Linguistic interdependence of the respondents’ languages will influence the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Level of English proficiency
Linguistic interdependence
2.2 Typology and psychotypology Linguistic interdependence and cross-linguistic influence are important factors in the acquisition of additional languages and are highly dependent on typological and psychotypological matters. While language typology refers to the classification of languages based on grammatical structure, linguistic lineage etc., psychotypology refers to the individual language learner’s perception of linguistic distance between his or her languages. The latter term originates from Kellerman, who states that psychotypology can act as a constrainer or trigger of transfer (Kellerman, 1983). He later argues for using the term cross-linguistic influence, an overall term for interaction between the multilingual’s languages, rather than transfer, as terms such as transfer, interference and facilitation have negative or positive connotations, which imply unnecessary value judgments regarding psycholinguistic processes (Kellerman, 1987). Typology and psychotypology are considered influential factors in the choice of source language concerning cross-linguistic influence (for instance whether a language learner draws on the L1 or L2 in the production of L3). Language learners tend to borrow more terms from the language that is typologically closer to the target language or the language that is perceived as typologically closer to the target language.
20
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
2.2.1 Typology Language typology is a complex matter as there are so many elements involved in language taxonomy, e.g. lexicon, phonology, morphology, word order, alphabet, written versus spoken forms, linguistic lineage etc. Perhaps it is for this reason that language typology is most often described in terms of linguistic lineage, as in the extensive encyclopaedia Ethnologue: Languages of the World (Gordon, 2005). While Ethnologue provides impressive amounts of information on each of the World’s 6,912 known living languages, i.e. number of speakers, location, literacy rates, use in schools, religion, dialect names, to mention a few, the only linguistic typological information provided is the linguistic lineage and, only for some languages, word order and perhaps syllable patterns. However, linguistic lineage, i.e. family trees, does not necessarily say much about the differences and similarities between various languages. And the alternative in relation to describing differences and similarities between languages is a complicated and laborious task, namely comparing languages according to the many different elements of language. Consequently, it is no wonder that “[a]lthough linguists are familiar with the concept of the distance among the myriad characteristics of languages, the prevailing view is that it cannot be measured or quantified” (Chiswick & Miller, 2005: 8). Nevertheless, some quantifications of language distance can be found. As reported by Corder (1982), British Foreign Service agents have been paid language learning allowances for set periods of time based on a scale of ‘supposed or actually experienced difficulty in learning different groups of languages’. Similarly, intensive language courses offered by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, through which personnel should attain high levels of proficiency, have differing durations, indicating a measure of difficulty in learning certain languages (Odlin, 1989 in Bialystok & Hakuta, 1994). US Foreign Service Institute
British Foreign Service Allowance
Languages
Lower
Danish, German and Spanish
Intermediate
Polish, Russian, Persian, Turkish
Higher
Japanese, Burmese, Chinese, Korean
Weeks 20
Italian, German, Spanish, French
24
Dutch, Afrikaans, Swedish, Danish, Rumanian, Norwegian, Portuguese Malay, Indonesian
32 44
Table 2: Language groups based on British Foreign Service allowances (Corder, 1982: 95).
Languages
Serbo-Croatian, Russian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu Turkish, Thai, Amharic, Polish, Filipino, Finnish, Hungarian, Hindi, Hebrew, Dari, Japanese, Chinese, Czech, Lao, Korean, Greek
Table 3: Language groups based on duration of intensive language courses (Odlin, 1989 in Bialystok & Hakuta, 1994: 34).
21
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
These ‘measures’ or indications of the difficulties for English-speaking people in learning can be seen in Table 2 and Table 3. Languages that appear in both tables have been marked in bold. In fact, there seems to be agreement between the two ‘measures’ if one considers the ‘lower allowance’ languages to correspond to the languages set to take 20 and 24 weeks to learn and if one considers the ‘intermediate’ and ‘higher allowance’ languages to correspond to the languages set to take 44 weeks to learn. While the reported language groupings based on the time it takes native English speakers to learn them are interesting, they are difficult to utilise. However, we have come across a measure of linguistic distance proposed by Chiswick & Miller (2005). As language typology is an important factor in the acquisition of additional languages, including English as a third language, it is inspiring to have found a measure of linguistic distance between English and a range of other languages. The linguistic distance measure put forward by Chiswick & Miller (2005) is based on the difficulty Americans have learning particular languages. In practice, the average abilities of Americans learning 43 different languages after 16 and 24 weeks of foreign language training have been measured through a standardised proficiency test. Based on the various target language groups’ test results, each language has been assigned a language score (LS) indicating how difficult it is for Americans to learn that particular language. The language scores range from ‘1’, difficult to learn, to ‘3’, easy to learn, with .25 intervals. For example, Japanese has a score of 1 and Afrikaans a score of 3, indicating that for an American, learning Afrikaans is very easy whereas learning Japanese is very difficult. The difficulty of learning the foreign language, measured as LS, is thought to indicate linguistic distance (LD). The linguistic distance measure used by Chiswick & Miller is the inverse of the linguistic score, meaning that LD=1/LS. Thus, the higher the LD, the more difficult it is to learn the target language. For instance, the LD between English and Afrikaans is 0.33 while it is 1.0 between English and Japanese. The validity of the linguistic distance measure has been tested by Chiswick & Miller in relation to the English proficiency of immigrants in America and Canada. Results show that the measure is statistically significant when other relevant variables are the same, i.e. years of schooling, age, time spent in the target language country etc. Their results indicate that the higher the LD between an immigrant’s L1 and English, the more difficult it is and the longer it takes for the immigrant to learn English. Apart from the 43 languages originally on the language score list, more languages have
22
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
been assigned language scores and added to the list based on their closeness to languages already on the list. We find the presented quantitative measure of linguistic distance most relevant in relation to our investigation, as typological differences may well explain varying levels of English proficiency amongst our respondents. It should be noted, however, that we find some aspects of the language distance measure problematic. First of all, the data on which the measure is based is to be found in an unpublished article by Hart-Gonzalez & Lindemann, making it impossible to know the number of participants and exactly how language scores have been assigned. Secondly, many other languages have been added to the list based on the judgment of a single linguist, rather than being based on data similar to the data used for the original language distance measure. This latter point seems to contradict the whole purpose of creating language distance measures based on actual data as opposed to being based on e.g. linguistic lineage. A final note of caution applies not to the distance measure itself, but to the transferability of it to our chosen contexts, Copenhagen and Nuuk. The language distance measure is based on data from a very different context, namely Americans learning a range of different languages, meaning that it may not be directly transferable to the context of our investigation. Despite the mentioned matters of critique and caution, we will apply the linguistic distance measure in our analyses. In a study by Ringbom (1987), the acquisition of English for Swedish and Finnish speaking Finns is compared. Regarding the acquisition of English for learners with typologically related as opposed to typologically unrelated L1s, Finland is an interesting setting due to the homogeneity of speakers in terms of educational and cultural factors. At the same time there are great typological differences between the L1s, Finnish and Swedish, which are the two main language groups. Finnish is structurally very different from English (and Swedish), whereas Swedish is structurally similar to English. For these reasons, a project concerning the learning of English for Finnish- and Swedishspeaking Finns, English being their common L3, was launched by the Department of English, Åbo Academy, in the 1970s. The findings of the project were reported by Ringbom (1987). What makes Ringbom’s study relevant to the present thesis is the focus on the acquisition of English as an L3 for learners of typologically unrelated L1s. Ringbom’s study is particularly relevant in relation to the Nuuk context, which can be said to be very similar to that of Finland in terms of the typological differences of the involved languages, whereas the Copenhagen context is somewhat different, due
23
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
to the expected larger variety of L1s. Ringbom reports that the typological distance plays a great role in the acquisition of English as a third language as cross-linguistic influence proves “overwhelmingly facilitative” for the Swedish-speaking Finns. However, he also notes that the L1 exerts a stronger influence on the acquisition of English in the early stages of learning than in the later stages. In fact, it appears that while the L1 has great influence in the early stages, no differences in English proficiency are found amongst university students on account of their L1, although this observation is based on reports by university staff rather than an actual investigation. Concerning the differences for the two language learner groups, Ringbom concludes that: The difference between learning a related and an unrelated language is primarily a difference between much overt cross-linguistic influence based on perceived similarities vs. little or no overt cross-linguistic influence: a question of “transfer” vs. lack of transfer. Cross-linguistic influence based on perceived similarities is overwhelmingly “positive transfer”, not “negative transfer” (Ringbom, 1987: 109).
Based on Ringbom’s findings, we can expect to find differences in the acquisition of English in our investigation. Not only is the ‘actual’ typological distance between English and the L3 learner’s L1 a major factor in the acquisition process, the distance as perceived by the L3 learner is also of importance.
2.2.2 Psychotypology Regarding psychotypology, Kellerman (1983) argues that in cases of typological closeness between the language learner’s L1 and L2, cross-linguistic influence can be expected due to cognate forms and structures between the two languages. In contrast, typological distance between L1 and L2 can act as a bar to cross-linguistic influence through lack of similar forms and structures. Moreover, where there is a discrepancy between the typological distance and the psychotypological distance between a language learner’s languages, the learner may make erroneous transfer between his or her languages. Correspondence between typological and psychotypological distance, on the other hand, will result in positive transfer. This corresponds with the view of other scholars, who consider psychotypology to be a determining factor in cross-linguistic influence (e.g. Bouvy, 2000; Cenoz & Jessner, 2000; Cenoz, 2001; Ringbom, 2001).
24
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
According to Cenoz (2001), older children advance more quickly than younger children in the first stages of L2 acquisition based on psychotypological reasons as they have a more accurate perception of linguistic distance. As psychotypology may affect the L3 learner’s successful acquisition of a third language, we wish to include this in our investigation. A discrepancy between the language learner’s psychotypology and the typological distance between his or her languages may imply that the learner does not have a high level of metalinguistic awareness as this would enable him or her to judge the typological distance between his or her languages appropriately. The fact that language learners tend to borrow more terms from the language that is typologically closer or is perceived to be closer to the target language will not be investigated. Rather, we will examine whether typology in terms of language distance between L1 and English and psychotypology are related to English proficiency. Based on the supposed significance of typology and psychotypology in language learning we propose the following hypothesis, corresponding to question b in our problem definition: Hypothesis B: Typology The typological distance between the respondents’ L1 and English will influence the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Typological distance between L1 and English
Level of English proficiency
Although typological distance between languages and psychotypology may play a vital role in third language acquisition, other factors may have an impact on the language learner’s acquisition process as well. One of those factors is metalinguistic awareness which scholars believe is enhanced in L3 learners due to their previous language learning experience.
2.3 Metalinguistic Awareness It is commonly assumed that metalinguistic awareness is a special type of language performance that is cognitively demanding. Although scholars often attribute metalinguistic awareness
25
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
importance in the discussion of research results, few attempt to specify what metalinguistic awareness entails, its function and its development. The term ‘metalinguistic’ is used as a qualifier for at least three different entities: knowledge, ability and awareness (Bialystok, 2001).
2.3.1 Metalinguistic knowledge Metalinguistic knowledge is related to linguistic knowledge. The difference between the two is the level of generality at which rules are presented. If these rules, for instance, involve a structure of a particular language (such as word order in Danish or past tense in English), they are related to linguistic knowledge. Metalinguistic knowledge, on the other hand, refers to knowledge of abstract principles of language that are distinct from knowledge of a particular language: “Hence, metalinguistic knowledge minimally needs to include the abstract structure of language that organizes sets of linguistic rules without being directly instantiated in any of them. This would include insights such as canonical word order and productive morphological patterns” (Bialystok, 2001: 123-124). Thus, when one possesses metalinguistic knowledge, one has a general knowledge of language irrespective of specific linguistic structures.
2.3.2 Metalinguistic abilities Metalinguistic ability can be described as the capacity to use knowledge about language as opposed to the ability to use language. Metalinguistic abilities can be observed in children as young as two years of age when they are capable of self-correction of word form, word order and pronunciation, show concern about the proper word choice, pronunciation and style, and comment on other’s use of language (Jessner, 2006).
2.3.3 Metalinguistic awareness Metalinguistic awareness is language use involving its own properties and structure. “Metalinguistic awareness may be defined as an individual’s ability to focus attention on language as an object in and of itself, to reflect upon language, and to evaluate it” (Thomas, 1992: 531). Metalinguistic awareness is a trait of both monolingual and bilingual linguistic behaviours, and is thus not restricted to bilinguals, although it has been identified as one of the domains in which bilinguals distinguish themselves from their monolingual peers.
26
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
According to Bialystok, metalinguistic awareness is related to language processing. Language processing depends on two processing components, which she refers to as ‘analysis of linguistic knowledge’ and ‘control of linguistic processing’ (Bialystok, 1991: 116). These components can be considered the metalinguistic dimensions of language processing. The two components are each responsible for one aspect of language and its development. The analysis component is in charge of the changes occurring in the language learner’s mental representation of language. These mental representations develop into more structured, more explicit and more interconnected representations as the language learner becomes more experienced. Representation refers to both knowledge and the structure of knowledge as well as to the relation between a symbol and its referent. Representations referring to knowledge and its structure are organised around meanings and uses and help language learners organise their knowledge of the world (Bialystok, 1991). Bialystok’s second processing component, the control component, is responsible for selecting information from a representation and directing attention to that information in real time. This component is claimed to be central to language proficiency. “Processing is always selective, and control of linguistic processing is the process of selecting, with or without awareness, the information that will be attended to in the solution to a problem” (Bialystok, 1991: 119). As the language learner’s proficiency increases, his or her selective attention improves. The more complex language uses are, the more demanding strategies for controlling is needed by the language learner. The language learner’s advances in language proficiency are contingent upon the two processing components. Whether or not language learners complete tasks successfully is influenced by their ability to analyse linguistic representations and to control the processing. Language learners will advance through language uses as their mastery of the two processing components improve. “The two processing components are considered to be the mechanisms by which language proficiency improves through age, experience, and instruction. They are also the mechanisms that are responsible for a language learner’s ability to carry out various language functions” (Bialystok, 1991: 116). More language learning experience thus results in enhanced language proficiency, and higher levels of analysis and control make learners capable of solving more complicated problems, including metalinguistic problems.
27
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
According to Bialystok (2001), ‘metalinguistic’ refers to a group of tasks or language uses characterised by requiring a relatively high demand for analysis of linguistic knowledge and/or a relatively high demand for control of linguistic processing. When language learners demonstrate an ability to focus on language forms, they are regarded as possessing metalinguistic awareness. When language learners are performing a task classified as metalinguistic, they are demonstrating metalinguistic ability. Metalinguistic tasks differ from each other in the extent to which each of the two processing components is involved in the solution to the task. Some metalinguistic tasks require a high demand of analysis, some a high demand of control and some a high demand of both. Because of the potential contingency between analysis and control, the context resting primarily on analysis must be considered earlier in the progression than those resting more strongly on control. Hence, the development would be from metalinguistic knowledge to metalinguistic ability, culminating finally in metalinguistic awareness. (Bialystok, 2001: 133)
In other words, language use begins to involve more metalinguistic knowledge as the demands for analysis increase and language use begins to involve more metalinguistic ability and metalinguistic awareness as the demands for control increase. According to Bialystok (1991), proficiency in two languages results in increasing levels of analysis and control such that solving increasingly demanding problems becomes possible: The very experience of learning to read in a second language, to switch languages when addressing different speakers, to have completely different systems for expressing such notions as past tense, bestow upon the bilingual child the opportunity to make rapid advances in their mastery of the two processing components that underlie all language use across the domains. (Bialystok, 1991: 134-135)
Although bilingual children solve metalinguistic problems in a similar manner to monolingual children, they may be advantaged in these types of tasks as they often possess advanced levels of control due to prior language learning experience. However, this does not hold true for all bilingual children, but their linguistic systems do differ from the linguistic systems of their monolingual counterparts:
28
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
There are no universal advantages, nor are there universal liabilities in being bilingual. But processing systems developed to serve two linguistic systems are necessarily different from the same processing systems that operate in the service of only one. Bilingual children, then, ultimately and inevitably process language differently from monolingual children. (Bialystok, 1991: 138-139)
We have included Bialystok here as she is the only scholar we have come across who describes the operational processes involved in metalinguistic awareness. In order to investigate the possible enhanced metalinguistic awareness in bilinguals when learning an L3, theoretical frameworks need to be expanded to also include metalinguistic awareness for L3 learners and for various age groups. Research on metalinguistic awareness in L3 learners is often based on young children or adults (for instance, the examples provided by Bialystok more or less all include children under or around the age of six). We have not been able to obtain studies investigating older children’s or adolescents’ metalinguistic awareness in relation to L3 proficiency. Such studies would certainly have been useful and might have made it possible to investigate metalinguistic knowledge in a more thorough manner, as well as perhaps making it possible to investigate the construct of metalinguistic awareness. Metalinguistic awareness, which is often reported as enhanced in multilinguals, may play a significant and facilitating role in the acquisition of additional languages. Developing pupils’ metalinguistic awareness may increase the potential advantage of knowing two languages when acquiring a third. The respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge will be examined in our investigation through questions concerning general linguistic principles. The L3 learners in our investigation ought to possess a higher level of metalinguistic knowledge than the L2 learners due to their prior language learning experience. We believe that there may be a relationship between metalinguistic knowledge and target language proficiency. It seems reasonable to suggest that the more knowledge one has about general linguistic principles, the better one would be able to apply these principles in the acquisition of an additional language. One could also argue that a high level of proficiency in a target language may enhance a language learner’s ability to theorise about his or her languages. Nevertheless, we expect that the respondents’ level of metalinguistic knowledge influences their level of English proficiency as presented in the hypothesis below, corresponding to question c in our problem definition:
29
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Hypothesis C: Metalinguistic knowledge There is a relationship between the respondents’ level of metalinguistic knowledge and the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Level of metalinguistic knowledge
Level of English proficiency
While interdependence, typology and metalinguistic knowledge are factors that are highly language-based, other factors relevant to language acquisition are mainly learner-based. One such learner-based factor is motivation.
2.4 Motivation Based on language learning studies carried out over a twelve year period, Gardner & Lambert (1972) propose a sociopsychological theory of second and foreign language learning based on the notion that “the successful learner of a second language must be psychologically prepared to adopt various aspects of behaviour which characterize members of another linguistic-cultural group” (Gardner & Lambert, 1972: 3). In other words, the acquisition of an additional language is seen as more than simply the acquisition of a set of new verbal habits. Gardner (1985) elaborates this view by stating that the learning of additional languages differs from the learning of other subjects, as the language learning task not only requires learning aspects of another language but also requires incorporating elements from another culture. “[S]tudents are not asked simply to learn about the language; they are required to learn the language, to take it in, as it were, and make it part of their behavioural repertoire” (Gardner, 1985: 6). Therefore, it is argued, the learner’s motivation for learning the target language is dependent upon attitudes towards the other linguistic group as well as on the kind of goal the learner has for learning the other language. Regarding motivation, Gardner & Lambert (1972) distinguish between motivational intensity, the effort exerted to learn the language, and motivational orientation, the goal of learning the language. Besides a goal and effortful behaviour, Gardner (1985) adds a desire to attain the goal and favourable attitudes towards the activity as further aspects of motivation (Gardner, 1985: 50). None of these four aspects reflect motivation in and of themselves, rather, motivation is defined 1) as
30
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
including three components: want, effort and affect and 2) as being goal-directed (Gardner, 1985: 10-11). This is illustrated in the schematic representation in Figure 1 of motivation in relation to learning English as an additional language:
Attitudes towards learning English (affect) Goal Desire (want)
Motivational intensity (effort)
To learn
Learning English is important to me because …
Figure 1: Schematic representation of the concept of motivation as it relates to learning English as an additional language (adapted and modified from Gardner, 1985)
This definition of motivation (want, effort and affect) makes it possible to distinguish between motivation and orientation, the goal of the language learning process. In relation to our investigation, we will not measure the degree of the respondents’ desire (want) to learn English, but we will ask the respondents whether or not they have a desire to learn English. Furthermore, we will ask them how they consider English in relation to other school subjects. If they prefer English over other subjects, this will be taken to reflect a desire for and positive attitude towards learning English. Regarding homework, a seemingly obvious way of measuring effort, it has been shown in the Danish context that year nine pupils’ amount of time spent on homework had a negative relationship to their achievement in English (Alabau et al., 2002; EVA, 2003). We will ask the respondents in our investigation whether they feel that they study more, the same or less than their classmates and see how this relates to their achievement.
2.4.1 Attitudes From an operational point of view, Gardner defines an individual’s attitude as: “an evaluative reaction to some referent or attitude object, inferred on the basis of the individual’s beliefs or
31
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
opinions about the referent” [italics in original] (Gardner, 1985: 9). In relation to the acquisition of additional languages, the referent or attitude object is defined as 1) learning the language and 2) the other-language community. Furthermore, attitudes differ in specificity and generality depending on the concreteness or abstractness of the referent. Thus, learning English is a relatively specific referent, whereas learning languages as such is considerably more general. While attitudes towards learning the target language have consistently been related to achievement, attitudes towards the other-language community have shown a more variable set of relationships (Gardner, 1985). Regarding children learning additional languages at school, Gardner & Lambert (1972) proved a strong relationship between parents’ and children’s attitudes. This, they claim, suggests that attitudes are developed in the home; perhaps even before language training starts. In one of the twelve studies Gardner & Lambert (1972) base their theory on, the Philippine Study, English is the target language. In this study, participants are asked about their attitudes towards Americans in order to elicit their attitudes towards the other linguistic-cultural group. However, we feel that asking respondents in our investigation about attitudes towards Americans would not suffice in eliciting their attitudes towards native L1 speakers of English. With the status of English as the main lingua franca and with the wide range of native Englishes spoken it is difficult, if not impossible, to define the other linguistic-cultural group, as this is in fact numerous linguisticcultural groups. Rather than asking the respondents in our investigation about their attitudes towards English-speaking people, we will ask them about their attitudes towards the English language, making the referent or attitude object in our investigation the English language itself. As a second referent, we will ask about language learning in general.
2.4.2 Orientation The language learner’s orientation towards learning the target language is defined as integrative or instrumental. The integrative orientation reflects a desire to learn about the other cultural group through knowing their language and emphasises a desire for integration, a willingness to become a member of another ethnolinguistic group. The instrumental orientation, on the other hand, indicates utilitarian reasons for learning the language and is characterised by a desire to achieve social and/or economic advantages through knowledge of the target language.
32
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
The contrast we have drawn, then, has at one extreme an integratively oriented learner who in considering the learning task is oriented principally towards representatives of a novel and interesting ethnolinguistic community, people with whom he would like to develop personal ties. At the other extreme the instrumentally oriented language learner is interested mainly in using the cultural group and their language as an instrument of personal satisfaction, with few signs of an interest in the other people per se. (Gardner & Lambert, 1972: 14-15)
Krashen (1981) adds that the integratively oriented learner wishes to meet social needs through acquisition of the target language, whereas the instrumentally oriented learner wishes to meet communicative needs. Furthermore, he claims that the learner ‘fossilises’, stops acquiring the language, when his or her needs are met. While the integrative orientation is generally related to target language achievement, the instrumental orientation may also be a predictor of achievement, particularly where there is a vital need to master the target language. In fact the instrumental orientation may be a stronger predictor of target language achievement if the target language is needed in order to e.g. undertake further studies, enhance job opportunities etc. (Gardner & Lambert, 1972). Krashen (1981) argues that when the practical value of the target language is high and frequent use is necessary, then instrumental orientation may be a powerful predictor of target language acquisition. He furthermore states that the positive effect of integrative orientation appears to be weaker in situations where opportunities to get intake outside the classroom are rare. Thus, one cannot expect to find a relationship between motivational intensity and motivational orientation as integratively and instrumentally oriented language learners may be equally intense in their language learning efforts, depending on the setting and what the individual can gain through knowledge of the target language. Nevertheless, Gardner & Lambert claim that an integratively oriented learner may be better motivated as this orientation is more likely to maintain the long-term effort necessary to master an additional language: … motivations such as need for achievement or a fear of failure seem appropriate for shortterm goals such as passing a language course, but seem insufficient to account for the persistence needed in the laborious and time-consuming task of developing real competence in a new language. (Gardner & Lambert, 1972: 12)
The usefulness of the integrative/instrumental distinction has been disputed. For instance, Baker (1992) states that the two types of orientation can exist in the same individual at the same time as
33
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
they are not necessarily opposites. However, he further notes that the relationship between the integrative orientation and target language achievement has been established, although the degree of the relationship is relatively small. Baker concludes that “[t]he integrative attitude is one ingredient amongst many in the recipe for second language success” (Baker, 1992: 35). As for the effect of the language learner’s motivation for learning the language including attitudes towards the language on his or her level of proficiency, Bialystok & Hakuta (1994) conclude that this factor has a modest but persistent effect. With the special status of English in Europe, in between a foreign and a second language, we are curious to see how the concepts of integrative and instrumental orientation apply to the Copenhagen and Nuuk contexts and will therefore include a measure of this in our investigation. As for parental influence on the motivation for learning another language, any kind of encouragement from home is thought to have a positive effect. There are, however, differences in the degree and effect of encouragement provided by parents depending on whether they consider the instrumental or the integrative value of their child’s language learning most important. While parents who consider the instrumental value most important tend to provide the most encouragement, passive encouragement (positive attitudes towards the other cultural group and language) has a greater impact on the child’s motivation to learn another language (Gardner, 1985). As there supposedly is a positive effect of parental encouragement regardless of the kind of value they place on learning the target language, we will focus on whether or not the respondents in our empirical investigation feel that their parents find it important to learn English.
2.4.3 Anxiety According to Krashen (1981), personality factors are interrelated with motivational factors. He hypothesises that the self-confident and secure individual will be more open towards intake and that traits relating to self-confidence therefore may be related to target language achievement. The concept of anxiety is given particular emphasis as Krashen claims that there is a consistent relationship between various forms of anxiety and language proficiency in both formal and informal contexts. Gardner (1985) later concludes that it is precisely the context that is relevant to the construct of anxiety. Thus, it is anxiety in the language learning context that is related to target language achievement:
34
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
There does not appear to be much justification to conclude that in general anxious individuals are less successful than non-anxious ones in acquiring a second language, but rather that individuals who become anxious in the second language learning context will be less successful than those who do not. (Gardner, 1985: 34)
As presented above, motivation is a complex construct involving several components that influence language learning and thus level of target language proficiency. However, one could also argue that one’s proficiency level may have an impact on one’s motivation for learning the target language. For instance, a pupil who is good at English may find it more fun to learn English and thus be more motivated. Nevertheless, we expect that for the respondents in our investigation motivation will affect proficiency in English as expressed in the following hypothesis, corresponding to question d in our problem definition: Hypothesis D: Motivation Motivation for learning English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Motivation for learning English
Level of English proficiency
As stated, the construct of motivation is learner-based as opposed to language-based and also dependent upon individual as well as contextual factors. This is also true for usage of and exposure to English.
2.5 Usage and exposure It is uncontroversial to suggest that usage of and exposure to a target language naturally enhances proficiency in that language. The degree of usage and exposure is dependent on the ‘availability’ of and access to the target language in formal as well as naturalistic settings. For many language learners acquiring a foreign language, usage and exposure may only be possible through formal instruction:
35
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In a foreign language learning situation […] the language is not spoken in the immediate environment of the learner, although mass media provide opportunities for practising the receptive skills. There is little or no opportunity for the learner to use the language in natural communication situations. (Ringbom, 1987: 27)
Thus, the foreign language learner’s exposure to the target language is often limited to the classroom situation, and the learner is seldom exposed to a rich and varied target language input. Ringbom further states that target language exposure is important when learning a second language. Although Ringbom focuses on L2 acquisition in relation to the importance of target language exposure, we believe that his notion can be extended to L3 acquisition. This is indeed confirmed by Dewaele (2001) who states that the role of linguistic exposure functions similarly in L2 and L3 acquisition. Due to the special status of the English language, we expect that the respondents in our investigation are often exposed to English through various spare time activities and that they occasionally use English outside the formal language learning context. In an investigation by Preisler (2003) concerning the adult Danish population’s exposure to English, it is confirmed that exposure to English often occurs through various media. According to Preisler, over 70 per cent of the adults listen to music with English lyrics at least once a day. 75 per cent watch films or TV programmes in English without subtitles several times a week, and over 33 per cent watch programmes in English without subtitles on satellite or cable TV. 45 per cent are exposed to English through computer games at least once a week, and 25 per cent every day. Moreover, 32 per cent of Danish employees encounter English daily at their place of work, for instance through instruction manuals. As Preisler shows, the adult Danish population is often exposed to English through various channels. We expect that our respondents are exposed to English to an even larger degree as English plays a great part in youth culture as a marker of identity, for instance through codeswitching. To what extent usage of and exposure to English influence the respondents’ proficiency level in English will be examined in this thesis. One could argue that proficiency may also have an impact on usage and exposure. For instance, a language learner with good English skills may be more inclined to seek opportunities to use and come into contact with the English language. Nonetheless,
36
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
we expect that usage and exposure affect proficiency as conveyed in the hypothesis below, which corresponds to question e in our problem definition: Hypothesis E: Usage and exposure The amount of usage of and exposure to English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Usage of and exposure to English
Level of English proficiency
In summary, our theoretical framework suggests that a number of factors may be influential in the acquisition of English as a third language. These factors include linguistic interdependence, typology and psychotypology, metalinguistic knowledge, motivation and usage and exposure. Through our empirical investigation we will examine whether these factors prove to be influential for our respondent groups’ acquisition of English.
37
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
3. The Empirical Investigation ________________________________________________________________________________ We will begin this chapter by presenting the methodological approach to our investigation which was conducted in February and March 2006 in Copenhagen and Nuuk. First, the purpose, content and limitations of the questionnaire and English test used in the investigation will be outlined followed by an account of the instructions given to the respondents. Second, the statistical method employed in treating the results of the investigation will be introduced and the reliability and validity of our instruments will be discussed. Subsequently, the respondents will be introduced through presenting background variables such as age and gender distribution, country of birth and language combinations etc. before presenting and analysing our results.
3.1 Methodological approach The purpose of our investigation is to examine respondents’ experiences of learning English as their L3 and their proficiency level of English. In Copenhagen, our investigation will include L2 and L3 learners as this allows us to establish differences between learning English as L2 and L3. In other words, we will compare the linguistic minority pupils, L3 learners, in relation to their local peers, the monolingual Danish majority, L2 learners. In Nuuk, all respondents are L3 learners. The Copenhagen respondents have received two more years of English education than their Nuuk peers, for which reason Copenhagen respondents are likely to be more proficient in English and thus likely to perform better in the English test. Due to the Copenhagen and Nuuk respondents’ different quantity of received English education we cannot compare these groups’ level of English proficiency as their preconditions for learning English differ. Although the groups cannot be compared as regards their test results, we will compare their questionnaire replies.
3.1.1 Instruments: Pupil questionnaire and English test In order to investigate the respondents’ experiences with learning English and their level of English proficiency, we have constructed a questionnaire and an English test. The purpose of the questionnaire is to elicit information about the respondents’ language background and factors which may influence the acquisition of English, including usage of and exposure to English,
38
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
psychotypology, language preferences and motivation towards language learning in general and the acquisition of English in particular. The purpose of the English test is to determine the respondents’ proficiency level in English. The test examines the respondents’ receptive skills and aims at assessing their knowledge of the lexicon, grammar and semantics of the English language. Our first intention was to obtain a standardised test in order to ensure that the test was of good quality and fulfilled its purpose. However, standardised tests are both expensive and often inaccessible. Consequently, we explored the online website Skillswise, a BBC site which provides a wide variety of quizzes and worksheets within various skill-sets such as reading and writing. We composed the test of some of the tasks posted on Skillswise and from Teaching English (coproduced by BBC and the British Council), another website providing a number of tasks within various skill-sets. In the final version of the test, we have combined tasks from these two websites and this combination has resulted in a test that will give us an indication of the proficiency level of the respondents’ receptive skills in English. Prior to the actual investigation, pilot studies were conducted in Copenhagen. First, a pilot study was carried out in one class after which minor adjustments to the questionnaire and test were made. Subsequently, pilot studies including the new adjustments were carried out in two more classes at a different school, resulting in a few more adjustments to the questions in both questionnaire and test. The adjustments included, among other things, the exclusion of a question concerning which languages the respondents mainly employ when dreaming. As most respondents in the pilot studies either could not answer the question or found it silly, the question was consequently excluded. Finally, more options to the measure of attitudes towards English were added. Initially, four opposing word pairs (easy-difficult; cold-intimate; useless-useful and educated-uneducated) appeared in the questionnaire. Six more word pairs were added as the four original pairs did not seem sufficient to determine the respondents’ attitudes. One task was excluded from the English test as the task was too time-consuming. In order to make the test more manageable for the respondents, the number of questions was reduced from 87 to 60. The time limits in the scanning and skimming tasks were adjusted to two minutes for each task. The time limits were set such that not all respondents would be able to complete the tasks within the time limits.
39
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In the pilot studies, the respondents completed the test first followed by the questionnaire. The order was changed in the actual investigation so as to ensure that respondents do not base their answers in the questionnaire on how easy or difficult they found the test. Both the questionnaire and the test are in English. A Greenlandic and a Danish version of each have been prepared. Some expressions are accompanied by translations in the questionnaire and glossaries of grammatical terms appear in the test (in Danish in the Danish version and in both Danish and Greenlandic in the Greenlandic version). Both versions of the questionnaire appear in appendices A and B while the two versions of the test appear in appendices D and E. In appendix C we have indicated the replies that are scored as correct in the test as well as the sources of the test items.
Contents of the pupil questionnaire The questionnaire consists of ten sections, the first being ‘Background information’. Here, the respondent’s age, gender, place of birth, citizenship and sense of nationality is established. We have included questions with regard to possible exclusion, namely the respondent’s number of years of residence in the country in question (Denmark or Greenland) and possible years of schooling in another country. If a pupil has received a markedly different schooling than that provided through the Danish and Greenlandic school system, he or she will be excluded from the investigation. Finally, the parents’ highest levels of education are established as a measure of socio-economic background. This factor proved relevant in the study carried out by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute amongst year nine pupils in Denmark, in which the father’s level of education was related to level of English proficiency (EVA, 2003). In ‘Language information’ the pupils’ L1, L2 and possible L3 is established as well as the languages spoken by their parents. We have asked how many years of education the respondent has received in his or her L1. The question has been included to establish whether or not those with an L1 different from Danish or Greenlandic have received mother tongue education as this may prove relevant in relation to linguistic interdependence. Furthermore, this section includes questions regarding what languages the respondent uses with various people and in various situations in order to establish the functions of the respondent’s various languages and the usage of English in particular.
40
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
The respondents are asked to rate their own language skills for each of their languages in speaking, writing, reading and understanding in ‘Your language skills’. We are interested in the respondents’ L1 and L2 literacy skills in relation to L1 and/or L2 influence on the acquisition of English. As for the self-ratings of English skills, we are interested in seeing how well these correspond to their English test score as a test of the reliability of replies and of the test. L3 learners are also asked how similar they find their languages in order to determine their psychotypology. In ‘Your language preferences’ the respondents are asked to note their languages in order of preference for each of the four basic language skills, speaking, writing, reading and listening. We were inspired to include preferences from a questionnaire by Schönpflug, presented in an appendix to his article (2000). Schönpflug does not go further into reasons for including preferences in this article, but we included them as we expect that preferences may be related to level of proficiency as well as language attitudes. We have asked the respondents about their code-switching habits in ‘Switching between languages’ in order to determine not only the extent to which they code-switch, but also whether the extent of code-switching is related to their English proficiency. As shown by Normann Jørgensen (2002), code-switching may be positively related to L2 proficiency (see 2.1.2). We are curious as to whether code-switching is positively related to L3 proficiency for our respondents. In ‘Language in your spare time’ we seek to establish the languages the respondents use and are exposed to outside school. Many children and young people learn at least some of their English informally through TV, films, internet, music etc. Therefore, information about English usage and exposure outside the formal language learning context may explain the attained level of proficiency. Inspired by Gardner (1985), we have included the section ‘About learning languages’ in order to determine the respondents’ attitudes towards language learning in general. In ‘About learning English’ we have included questions concerning motivation. More specifically, the questions seek to establish the respondents’ motivational orientation, desire to learn English, motivational intensity and level of English classroom anxiety. The wordings of these questions are inspired by Gardner & Lambert (1972) and Gardner (1985).
41
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In order to elicit the respondents’ attitudes towards the English language, we have in ‘About the English language’ employed the Semantic Differential Technique (Baker, 1992), asking respondents to indicate their attitudes concerning bi-polar sets of adjectives on a five-point scale. We have included ten such bi-polar word-pairs, nine of which are inspired by Lee (2004) and the tenth, ‘Unpopular-Popular’, being our own addition. As the parents’ highest level of education may not always reflect the support provided from home, we have included questions regarding this in the ‘At home’ section. We have asked two questions regarding general support, namely whether the respondents get help with their homework at home and whether they want or need help with their homework. The purpose of these two questions is to elicit whether there is a discrepancy between the respondents’ need for help with homework and the help provided from home. We have also included a question concerning parental encouragement of the respondents’ English studies. When asking questions concerning conditions at home one of course must consider ethical aspects of one’s questions. As we do not ask in-depth about the home conditions we feel that the questions are acceptable from an ethical point of view. Finally, we have included space for giving comments.
Limitations of the questionnaire Although the questionnaire could have been even more thorough, it is in fact quite demanding and time-consuming for the respondents who also have to complete the English test designed for this investigation. Furthermore, the many questions, which are included as we wish to cover as many relevant factors as possible, may result in an overload of data for the present purpose. Another limitation of the questionnaire is that it is in English. We are aware of the seeming inconsistency in having respondents some of whom we expect may have difficulties in English answer a questionnaire in English. However, we see this as our best option due to the number of different language constellations of our respondents. If the questionnaire were in Danish, this would be the L1 for some respondents while being the L2 for others. We have also considered having a Danish and a Greenlandic version. A Greenlandic version could have been made with the assistance of translators; yet the coding and interpretation of replies given in Greenlandic would have been too demanding in terms of time and resources. Even with a Danish and a Greenlandic version, the questionnaire would still be in the L1 for some respondents while being in the L2 for others. We
42
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
wish to give the respondents as similar conditions for answering the questions as possible and have therefore chosen to have the questionnaire in English; a language that all respondents are in the process of learning. We have tried to keep the language of the questionnaire as simple as possible and have stressed in our instructions that the respondents were allowed all the help they needed to fill in the questionnaire.
Contents of the English test The English test is a multiple choice test consisting of eleven sections. Section one through ten consist of the actual tasks whereas the respondents are asked to evaluate the test’s degree of difficulty in section eleven. The ten tasks comprise 60 test items. Respondents are given one point for each correct response and null for no responses and incorrect replies, thus making it possible to achieve a maximum score of 60. It was imperative that the respondents found the test manageable such that they would be willing to complete it and that it was neither too easy nor too difficult. In ‘Scanning’, the respondents are asked to scan a text and answer five questions concerning the content of the text. Scanning is a fast reading technique and a way of looking for specific information in a text. In ‘Skimming’, the respondents are asked to skim a text and answer five questions concerning the content of the text. Skimming is a reading technique that helps the reader form a quick overview of a text. The scanning and skimming tasks assess the respondents’ reading skills in English. In principle, anyone should be able to answer a scanning or skimming assignment correctly if they are given all the time they wish, as all answers can be found in the provided text. Therefore, these assignments are given time limits, in order to test whether respondents are able to find the correct answers within a given time frame. As mentioned, the time limits are set at two minutes for each of these two tasks. ‘Grammar: Making sentences’, ‘Grammar: Verbs and subjects’ and ‘Grammar: The right tense’, contain questions of a metalinguistic nature. By asking the respondents to complete these tasks, we hope to get an indication of the respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge. We realise that these 14 questions do not fully assess the respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge, but the respondents’ answers will demonstrate whether or not they have a basic knowledge of the construction of a language and its grammatical components.
43
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
The task ‘Understanding words’ seeks to determine the respondents’ vocabulary. The purpose of this task is to assess the respondents’ word awareness and knowledge of the English lexicon. ‘Grammar exercise: Find the right verb’, ‘Grammar exercise: Personal pronouns’ and Grammar exercise: Find the right tense’ are included in order to depict the respondents’ knowledge of English grammar. In all three tasks, the respondents are asked to demonstrate their ability to make judgments about the structure of the English language. The task ‘Find the right word’ concerns adjectives and seeks to assess the respondents’ awareness of English adjectives. Finally, the respondents are asked to indicate the difficulty of the test. In order to be included in the investigation, the respondents need to complete at least 50 per cent of the English test (but not necessarily have 50 per cent correct answers). If they fail to do so, we consider this an expression of either a lack of effort or lack of knowledge. As we cannot determine whether or not the respondents do not want to or simply cannot complete the test, they will ultimately be excluded.
Limitations of the English test The main purpose of the English test is to assess the respondents’ level of English proficiency, but we realise that our test has certain limitations. The most obvious limitation of the test is that it cannot establish the respondents’ overall English proficiency. Only the respondents’ receptive skills are examined, leaving out a vital part of the respondents’ English skills, i.e. their productive skills. Moreover, the test estimates the respondents’ grammar skills, reading ability and knowledge of vocabulary, but only certain aspects of these three domains. Undoubtedly, the test could have been more extensive, including more test items estimating other language features such as spelling or punctuation. We have, however, included test items which we believe will indicate the respondents’ level of English proficiency to the extent possible in an investigation of this size. Another limitation is that certain test items could potentially have more than one correct response. For instance, one could argue that a sentence does not necessarily need to contain a verb and a
44
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
subject. Also, the sentence Her new husband is very… (question 4, ‘Find the right word’) could in principal be completed by answering both ‘high’ (as in being intoxicated) and ‘smart’ (correct answer). This incongruity only applies to few test items, but the respondents could become confused as they knew each test item only begged one correct reply. Despite this fact, we have only given the respondents points for answers that are correct according to Skillswise and Teaching English (these are indicated in appendix C) in order to avoid various interpretations and analyses of answers.
3.1.2 Instructions The respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire first. It was emphasised that they were not to begin the test until asked to do so. The respondents were informed that we expected them to note English as one of their languages so as to make sure that they did not, for instance, only note their L1. The respondents were encouraged to ask for help to fill in the questionnaire if needed. After completing the questionnaire, instructions concerning the test were given. The respondents were informed that they were to complete a scanning and a skimming task, each within two minutes, after which they were to answer the rest of the test at their own pace.
3.1.3 Interviews As we are less familiar with the Greenlandic than the Danish context, we took the opportunity to carry out two focus group interviews while in Nuuk. The interviews are a way of ensuring that we do not miss important factors in the acquisition of English for Nuuk respondents. The interviews were carried out in Danish, as the pupils are better at Danish than English (and as we do not know Greenlandic). Four year ten pupils participated in each interview. The pupils participating in the individual interviews are from the same class and thus know each other well. For the first interview, the participating pupils were chosen by their teacher. These pupils mainly receive instruction in Danish. For the second interview, the participating pupils volunteered. These pupils mainly receive instruction in Greenlandic. It should be mentioned that for the first interview, the rest of the class were allowed to leave school for the day, for which reason the participating pupils were eager to finish up and go home. Regarding the second interview, the participating pupils were allowed to leave a lesson that they did not enjoy thus making them eager to continue the interview so that they did not have to return to class. The different incentives for participating have influenced the length
45
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
of the replies and interviews; the first interview being considerably shorter (app. 11 minutes) than the second (app. 32 minutes). The interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed after our return to Denmark. The transcriptions appear in appendices F and G. It should be noted that the transcriptions are in Danish.
3.2 Statistical method We will use the programme SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for our statistical analyses. Our analyses will follow the five hypotheses put forward in chapter 2. Four of the hypotheses will include various sub-hypotheses. The type of variables involved in each hypothesis will determine the bivariate tests we will apply. As our data consists of nominal, ordinal and interval/ratio variables, we will make use of χ2 (chi-square), gamma (γ), independent t, ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Pearson tests. While the relationship between the involved variables is tested in χ2 and Pearson tests, the independent t-test and the ANOVA test the differences between variables. Whereas χ2, independent t, ANOVA and Pearson tests either the relationship or differences between variables, gamma tests both relationship and differences (Howell, 1999). For analyses involving nominal variables, we will apply the χ2 test, while the gamma test will be used for ordinal variables. As opposed to the χ2 test, the gamma test value can be further interpreted, telling us about the strength of the relationship between the variables; whether a correlation is strong, moderate or weak. In analyses where the dependent variable is an interval/ratio scale and the independent variable is nominal or ordinal we will apply the independent t-test or the ANOVA. Both of these tests compare the means between groups. The independent t-test compares the means of two groups (binary variable), while the ANOVA tests the variance in means of three or more groups. More specifically, the ANOVA tests whether differences are greater between groups than within groups. If differences are greater between groups than within groups, the result may be significant. If so, we will carry out post hoc tests, Bonferroni and LSD, in order to determine between which groups there are significant differences. We will only report post hoc tests when both the Bonferroni and LSD show significant differences between the same groups. In relation to significant ANOVA results, we will carry out descriptive analyses in order to interpret the findings (referred to as descriptives in
46
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
accordance with SPSS output tables). As we will not carry out multivariate analyses (analyses involving more than two variables), we will only apply the one-way ANOVA. Finally, if an analysis involves two interval/ratio variables, a Pearson correlation will be employed. As the name implies, the Pearson correlation tests the correlation between two variables. The correlation coefficient is a measure of the degree of the relationship between the two variables from which we can establish whether the correlation is strong, moderate or weak (Howell, 1999). We will operate with an alpha-level of .05, meaning that we only accept a probability of less than five per cent that a result occurred by chance as statistically significant. Only test values for significant results (p≤.05) will be presented.
Discrete missing values If respondents have refrained from answering a question, this has been coded as a ‘missing’ value. For most questions, respondents were only meant to choose one option. In these cases, if more than one option has been chosen, the answer has been coded as ‘invalid’. Also, some replies have been coded as ‘irrelevant’, e.g. if L2 learners have given answers to questions that only concern L3 learners, such as which of their languages they find more similar. Finally, in order to keep some variables ordinal, replies such as ‘I don’t know’ have been coded as a discrete missing value. Discrete missing values will generally only be reported if the number is substantial and will not be included in all figures. Therefore, percentages will not always add up to 100.
Presentation In relation to the bivariate analyses, a univariate analysis of each involved variable will be presented. Each variable will only be described in a univariate manner once to avoid repetitions, even if the variable recurs in a subsequent analysis. Furthermore, it will be indicated whether hypotheses are directional or nondirectional as this determines whether the tests are one-tailed (directional hypothesis) or two-tailed (nondirectional hypothesis). This will be shown as follows: Directional hypothesis (one-tailed) (variable A affects variable B)
Variable B
Variable A 47
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nondirectional hypothesis (two-tailed) (variable A and variable B affect each other) Variable A
Variable B
In some nondirectional hypotheses, we expect variable A to affect variable B, although we recognise that variable B may also affect variable A. This will be illustrated by a full arrow in the expected direction and a dotted arrow in the direction that we accept as probable.
Variable A
Variable B
Regardless of our expectations, we will carry out two-tailed tests for nondirectional hypotheses. We will not state whether tests are one- or two-tailed for every reported result as this should be clear from the schematic representation of the individual hypotheses. Data will mostly be presented in percentages (with one decimal), but the reader should keep in mind that the individual groups (L2 learners, L3 learners in Copenhagen and L3 learners in Nuuk) differ in size. Test values will be given with two decimals and the probability, p, will be given as .05 (showing low significance), .01 or .001 (both showing high significance). In reporting results, the following notations will be employed: χ2
chi-square
γ
gamma value
t
t statistic (independent t-test)
F
F statistic (ANOVA)
r
Pearson’s correlation coefficient
p
probability value
N
number of respondents
x
mean
SD
standard deviation
48
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Finally, SPSS output tables of included results appear in appendix H.
3.3 Reliability and validity Throughout the preparation and execution of the present investigation we have strived to ensure that the employed instruments will yield reliable and valid data. For this purpose, we have carried out pilot studies as a quality control of the questionnaire and test.
Reliability First of all, we believe that our data is reliable as respondents have answered the questionnaire in a consistent manner. Concerning the conditions, these have been similar for all respondents. Data has been gathered in the classroom setting within school hours. Secondly, we have conducted the investigation ourselves and have thus been able to ensure that instructions, amount of help provided etc. has been similar for all respondents. The one conditional factor that changed from class to class was the present teacher and his or her conduct in terms of assistance in answering respondents’ questions. For most classes, their English teacher was present, while for one class a substitute teacher was present and for two classes no teacher or a substitute teacher was present. While the absence of the regular English teacher might have influenced respondents’ level of motivation regarding participation, the classes in question completed the questionnaire and test in as conscientious a manner as did the other participating classes. In the questionnaire, we have included several measures concerning particular constructs, i.e. socioeconomic background and attitudes (affect). If the various measures of the same construct yield consistent results, this is an indication of reliability. As will emerge in the analyses, these measures do indeed yield consistent results, indicating that data is reliable. Concerning the English test, a specific analysis that we take to reflect both reliability and validity is the relationship between respondents’ self-reported English literacy skills and their achievement in the English test score. As will be shown in 3.5.3, this relationship proves significant for all respondent groups.
49
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Validity Internal validity depends on 1) the correspondence between employed constructs and the measures of these constructs and 2) the degree to which it is in fact the independent variables rather than other factors that affect dependent variables (Neuman, 2003). While internal validity cannot be guaranteed, we have aimed to achieve this through 1) being able to clarify the meaning of questions and terms if respondents were in doubt and through 2) ensuring similar conditions for all respondent groups. As regards external validity of the investigation, or the generalisability of our results to other L2 or L3 learners of English, this validity is low. As there are so many factors involved in the acquisition of English as L2 or L3, this is heavily dependent upon the specific context. For this reason, the results can only be generalised to some extent to the Copenhagen and Nuuk contexts respectively. Even this is problematic as learning conditions have already changed for both contexts as coming Folkeskole generations receive English lessons one or three years more for Copenhagen and Nuuk respectively. In other words, the results of the present investigation may be generalised to some extent to the specific target populations, year nine pupils in Copenhagen and year ten pupils in Nuuk, although not for the coming year groups who receive more English teaching. However, the increased quantity of English education may simply result in higher levels of English proficiency, while the relationship between proficiency and the theoretical factors included in this empirical investigation may still be similar. Although there are problems in generalising the results of this investigation, we feel that the results may have relevance for other L3 learning groups, particularly for L3 learners of English. Due to the special status of English as international lingua franca, it is likely that there are similarities across various groups of L3 learners of English, including exposure to and motivation for learning English.
3.4 The respondents In Copenhagen, seven classes from three different schools participated. The schools were selected on the basis of the percentage of linguistic minority pupils attending the institutions, in order to make the sample as representative as possible. The first school has approximately 10 per cent linguistic minority pupils, the second school approximately 50 per cent and the third school over 90 per cent. The participants in Copenhagen were 108 year nine pupils. Based on their questionnaire replies, the respondents have been divided into an L2 and an L3 learner group according to their
50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
number of languages. The L3 learners had to meet the following criteria in order to be included in the investigation: a) English is their L3, b) they have no additional languages besides German and/or French which they are taught in school, c) they have not received education outside Denmark for more than a few months, d) they have completed the questionnaire (in a consistent manner) and e) they have completed at least 50 per cent of the English test. The criteria for the L2 learners were similar to the L3 learners except their L1 had to be Danish and their L2 English. On the basis of these criteria 17 respondents were excluded, most of them because they had more than three languages, English often being their L4, or because they did not consider English one of their languages. 91 respondents in Copenhagen met all criteria out of which 32 are L3 learners and 59 L2 learners. Nuuk has five municipal primary and lower secondary schools (folkeskoler) and all five schools were contacted. One school did not have year ten classes and one school never responded. All year ten classes in the three remaining schools participated. The respondents had to meet the following criteria in order to be included in the investigation: a) English is their L3, b) they have no additional languages besides German and/or French which they are taught in school, c) they have not received education outside Greenland for more than a few months, d) they have completed the questionnaire (in a consistent manner) and e) they have completed at least 50 per cent of the English test. 29 respondents did not meet all criteria and were consequently excluded, leaving us with 96 respondents from Nuuk. All Nuuk respondents are L3 learners, 11 of them have Danish as their L1 and 85 have Greenlandic as their L1. The numbers of included respondents are summarised in Table 4. Respondents In Copenhagen In Nuuk In all
L2 learners 59 59
L3 learners 32 96 128
Total 91 96 187
Table 4: Number of L2 and L3 learners in Copenhagen and Nuuk.
3.4.1 Background variables Age and gender distribution The 91 Copenhagen respondents’ ages range from 14-16 years, their mean age being 15.21. Boys make up 58.2% of the respondents and girls make up 41.8%. This distribution is somewhat uneven
51
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
as there are slightly more boys than girls compared to the overall distribution for 15-year olds in Copenhagen (51% male, 49% female) (January 2006, Statistics Denmark). The 96 Nuuk respondents’ ages range from 15-16 years, their mean age being 15.33. In Nuuk, the gender distribution is 53.1% boys and 46.9% girls which is close to the overall distribution for 15-year olds in Greenland (51% male, 49% female) (January 2006, Statistics Greenland).
Country of birth In Copenhagen, 21 (65.6%) of the L3 learners are born in Denmark whereas the remaining 11 (34.4%) are born outside of Denmark (see Figure 2). 58 (98.3%) of the L2 learners are born in Denmark and 1 (1.7%) is born in Macedonia.
Figure 2: Pie chart of country of birth for Copenhagen L3 learners
In Nuuk, 3 respondents (3.1%) are born in Denmark while 93 (96.9%) are born in Greenland.
Citizenship Although the majority of the Copenhagen respondents are born in Denmark, not all of them are Danish citizens. As Figure 3 illustrates, 16 of the 21 L3 learners who are born in Denmark are also Danish citizens which is half of the respondents of the L3 group as a whole. 14 respondents (43.7%) state other citizenships than Danish. All Copenhagen L2 learners are Danish citizens.
52
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 3: Pie chart of citizenship for Copenhagen L3 learners
In Nuuk, 95 respondents (99%) have Danish citizenship. The Greenlandic translation of citizenship, which we had inserted in brackets in the questionnaire, also carries the meaning of belonging to a place. This may explain why some respondents have in fact replied the names of different Greenlandic towns or settlements. However, as Greenlandic citizens have Danish citizenship, we have registered these replies as such.
Sense of nationality The respondents were also asked to note their sense of nationality by answering the question ‘How do you feel’. As Figure 4 illustrates, only one L3 learner (3.1%) in Copenhagen feels exclusively Danish. Although only one respondent feels Danish, 11 (34.4%) L3 learners feel Danish combined with some other nationality.
53
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 4: Pie chart of sense of nationality for Copenhagen L3 learners
The L3 learners’ responses suggest that their sense of nationality is not necessarily in correspondence with their country of birth and/or citizenship. Instead, the vast majority of the L3 learners appear to express affiliation with their ethnic background. Of the 59 L2 learners in Copenhagen the majority feel exclusively Danish. 49 respondents (83.1%) feel Danish, one (1.7%) feels Swedish and two (3.4%) feel European. A few feel Danish combined with some other nationality. Three (5.1%) feel Danish and European, one (1.7%) feels Danish and African and three feel an affiliation with Anglophone countries; one (1.7%) feels Danish and American and two (3.4%) feel Danish, English and American. None of the L3 learners in Copenhagen show a similar affiliation with Anglophone national identities. While the Nuuk respondents all have Danish citizenship, their replies to the question of nationality is slightly more varied as illustrated in Figure 5. Only two respondents (2.1%) have not included Danish and/or Greenlandic in their reply to this question (these two replies being ‘Myself’ and ‘African’). 51 (53.7%) feel Greenlandic only, four (4.2%) feel Danish and 31 (32.6%) feel Danish and Greenlandic. This means that 86 respondents (92.5%) have a sense of belonging to a country, which corresponds to their citizenship. Of these 86 respondents, seven have chosen an additional nationality to Danish and/or Greenlandic; namely English, American, Thai and European.
54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 5: Pie chart of sense of nationality for Nuuk L3 learners
L1, L2 and L3 All L3 learners have three languages, English being their third, but their L1 and L2 vary. As Figure 6 illustrates, the 32 L3 learners in Copenhagen have stated 11 different L1s out of which only five (15.6%) have stated Danish. A fourth (25%) of the L3 learners in Copenhagen have Albanian as their L1, thus constituting the largest language group. All L2 learners consider Danish their L1. 27 L3 learners in Copenhagen (84.4%) regard Danish as their L2. Of the five L3 learners who have Danish as L1, two (6.3%) consider Arabic their L2, one (3.1%) considers French his or her L2, one (3.1%) Spanish and one (3.1%) Moroccan. The choice of languages seems to reflect the group’s sense of nationality. The language most often employed as an L1 is Albanian which corresponds to the fact that the affiliation most frequently expressed in the question concerning how the Copenhagen L3 learners feel is the combination of Albanian and Danish. All L2 learners in Copenhagen consider English their L2 and all L3 learners regard English as their L3.
55
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Figure 6: Pie chart of the L1s of Copenhagen L3 learners
All Nuuk respondents have three languages, English being their L3. 11 respondents (11.5%) consider Danish their L1 and Greenlandic their L2, while 85 respondents (88.5%) regard Greenlandic as their L1 and Danish as their L2.
3.5 Results In the following, the results of our investigation will be presented and discussed in relation to the hypotheses posed in the previous chapter. As the respondents’ proficiency level, measured through our English test, is a variable that recurs in all hypotheses, we will begin this chapter by outlining the respondents’ test results. We will then examine the test results in relation to the respondents’ self-reported English literacy skills in order to determine the degree of correspondence between these variables. Next, socio-economic variables will be presented and analysed in relation to test score in order to establish whether socio-economic background plays a role in relation to English proficiency for our respondents. Subsequent to the presentation and analyses of the abovementioned variables, each hypothesis will be treated separately by use of univariate and bivariate analyses in order to confirm or reject the hypothesis stated. As Copenhagen and Nuuk respondents cannot be compared in relation to test results, we will first report test results for Copenhagen respondents and then for Nuuk respondents.
56
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
3.5.1 Copenhagen test results Overall test score In Copenhagen, the overall test score differs between the L2 learners and L3 learners, the L2 learners outperforming the L3 learners (see Figure 7). The mean score for the L2 learners is 41.14, with scores ranging from 15 to 54. The mean score is 38.94 for the L3 learners, with scores ranging from 19 to 52. The difference between the mean scores of the two groups is 2.2.
Overall test score: Copenhagen 10
Number of respondents
9 8 7 6
L2 (N=59) L3 (N=32)
5 4 3 2 1 0 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Number of correct responses
Figure 7: Overall test results for Copenhagen respondents
Almost half the L3 learners, 15 pupils (46.9%), scored in the upper third (41-60 correct responses) and 16 (50%) scored in the middle (21-40 correct responses). Only one L3 learner (3.1%) scored in the bottom third (0-20 correct responses) having 19 correct responses. As in the L3 group, only one L2 learner (1.7%) performed in the bottom third, 18 (30.5%) performed in the middle third and 40 pupils (67.8%) performed in the upper third.
Test assessment As for the respondents’ test assessments, L3 learners generally find the test somewhat easier than L2 learners, a larger percentage answering ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ as illustrated in Figure 8. For both groups, the most common answer is ‘neither easy nor difficult’, but a larger percentage of L2
57
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
learners find the test ‘difficult’ compared to L3 learners. Only one respondent, an L2 learner (1.7%), finds the test ‘very difficult’.
L2 (N=59)
very easy 10,2
23,7
47,5
11,9 1,7
easy neither easy nor difficult difficult
L3 (N=32)
12,5
31,3
46,9
6,3
very difficult
Percentage of respondents
Figure 8: Test assessment for Copenhagen respondents
Tasks Figure 9 illustrates each group’s percentage of correct answers within each task. As can be seen, L2 learners generally perform better than L3 learners. In fact, L2 learners perform better than L3 learners in seven out of ten tasks. The three tasks in which the L3 learners perform best are ‘Grammar: Making sentences’; Grammar: The right tense’ and ‘Grammar exercise: Find the right verb’. The task in which the L3 learners perform best is ‘Grammar: the right tense’. Although the L2 learners also perform well in this task, the task in which they perform best is ‘Find the right word’. The most difficult task for both groups was ‘Understanding words’ which is not surprising. For many foreign language learners some of the most demanding aspects of language learning include developing one’s vocabulary and becoming acquainted with idiomatic expressions of the target language. These are aspects that take time to learn. ‘Understanding words’ contains words and phrases that may be foreign to the respondents as they are non-native speakers of English who have only had English lessons for a limited number of years. The two tasks in which there is the largest discrepancy between the L2 learners and L3 learners’ mean scores (besides the scanning assignment) are ‘Understanding words’ and ‘Find the right word’. This discrepancy suggests that the biggest problem for the L3 learners is the English vocabulary.
58
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
79
Scanning
68,8
Skimming
70,6 66,8
Grammar: Making sentences
70,3 72
Grammar: Verbs and subjects
71,6 69,4 85,4 85,6
Grammar: The right tense
L2 (N=59) L3 (N=32)
49 43,4
Understanding words
50 50,6
Grammar exercise: Find the right verb
76,5 72,3
Grammar exercise: Personal pronouns
80,6 74,4
Grammar exercise: Find the right tense Find the right word
80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
89,4
90
100
Percentage per task
Figure 9: Average results for each English test task, Copenhagen
Metalinguistic knowledge The purpose of the three tasks ‘Grammar: Making sentences’; ‘Grammar: Verbs and subjects’ and ‘Grammar: The right tense’ is to assess the respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge. When comparing the respondents’ scores in the three tasks, L2 and L3 learners perform equally well (L2 learners: x =10.66; L3 learners: x =10.63).
3.5.2 Nuuk test results Overall test score In Nuuk, the respondents’ mean score is 27.99, with scores ranging from 6 to 50 (see Figure 10). If we divide the respondents into groups based on their L1, the mean for the group who have Danish as L1 (N=11) is 35.36 and the mean for the group who have Greenlandic as L1 (N=85) is 27.04. Amongst Nuuk respondents, 29 (30.2%) scored in the bottom third, whereas 49 (51.1%) scored in the middle and 18 (18.7%) scored in the upper third.
59
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Overall test score: Nuuk 10
Number of respondents
9 8 7 6 L1=DK (N=11) L1=GL (N=85)
5 4 3 2 1 0 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Number of correct responses
Figure 10: Overall test results for Nuuk respondents
Test assessment In Nuuk, the L1=DK group generally find the test easier than the L1=GL group, as illustrated in Figure 11. As in Copenhagen, the most common response for the Nuuk respondents as a whole is ‘neither easy nor difficult’. However, there is a slight tendency towards finding the test difficult as more respondents have answered ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ than those who have answered ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’.
L1=DK (N=11)
18,2
L1=GL (N=85) 3,5 11,8
54,5
18,2
37,6
25,9
9,1
14,1
very easy easy neither easy nor difficult difficult very difficult
Percentage of respondents
Figure 11: Test assessment for Nuuk respondents
Tasks As illustrated in Figure 12, the L1=DK group perform better than the L1=GL group in all tasks except ‘Grammar: Making sentences’ in which the L1=GL group perform best. For both groups, ‘Find the right word’ is the task in which they perform best and ‘Understanding words’ is the task
60
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
in which they perform poorest. The largest discrepancies between the L1=GL group and the L1=DK group are in ‘Grammar: The right tense’ and ‘Grammar exercise: Find the right tense’.
Scanning
60
42,6
Skimming
47,2 44,8
Grammar: Making sentences
47,8 49
Grammar: Verbs and subjects
63,6
48
Grammar: The right tense
83,6
56
Understanding words
L1=DK (N=11) L1=GL (N=85)
39,1
28,1
50 44,6
Grammar exercise: Find the right verb Grammar exercise: Personal pronouns
60,7
49,2
Grammar exercise: Find the right tense
74,6
44,2
Find the right word
89
64,2 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage per task
Figure 12: Average results for each English test task, Nuuk
Metalinguistic knowledge When comparing the respondents’ scores in the tasks designed to measure their level of metalinguistic knowledge, the L1=DK group perform far better than the L1=GL group in two out of three tasks. The one task in which the L1=GL outperform the L1=DK group is ‘Grammar: Making sentences’, a metalinguistic task.
3.5.3 English literacy skills in relation to English test score As a measure of the reliability of the respondents’ replies and our test, we have examined how well the respondents’ self-reported English literacy skills correspond to their overall test score results.
61
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Univariate analyses show that the three respondent groups rate their English literacy skills in a fairly similar manner (see Figure 13 and Figure 14).
Self-reported English writing skills
Excellent 2,1
Self-reported English reading skills
11,9 15,6
4,2
Good 16,7
32,2 31,3
Good
40,7 40,6 47,9
Okay 10,2 6,3
Bad 0
20
20,3 25
Excellent
Okay
15,6
24 60
80
100
27,1 49
3,4 6,3 11,5
Bad
40
47,5 46,9
28,1
0
20
40
60
80
100
Percent
Percent
Figure 13: Self-reported English writing skills
Figure 14: Self-reported English reading skills
While respondents are not too confident about their English writing skills, with approximately 50% answering ‘bad’ and ‘okay’, they appear to be fairly confident about their English reading skills, as a larger percentage answer ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ concerning this skill. As for the bivariate analyses, ANOVA tests show significant results for all groups in relation to English writing skills (Copenhagen L3: F(3)=18.05, p<.001; L2: F(3)=8.99, p<.001; Nuuk: F(3)=2.78, p<.05.) and English reading skills (Copenhagen L3: F(3)=7.78, p<.01; L2: F(3)=11.65, p<.001; Nuuk: F(3)=7.61, p<.001). As illustrated in figures 15 and 16, the better the respondents rate their own literacy skills in English, the better their test score. The only exception to this tendency is the Nuuk respondents who answer that their English writing skills are ‘excellent’, although it should be noted that there are only two respondents in this group.
62
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
S elf-reported English reading skills
S elf-reported English writing skills
60
60 45
Test score mean
41,29
40 30
36
36
33,63
28,33
28,17 22
50
24
20
30 20 10
0
0 Okay
Good
37,44 35,4
40
10
Bad
43,25 41
42
Test score mean
45,2 44,68
50
Figure 15: Test score means of groups based on selfreported English writing skills
34,63
36,5
26,49 22 18,5 19,27
Bad
Excellent
45,75 42,25
Okay
Good
Excellent
Figure 16: Test score means of groups based on selfreported English reading skills
In other words, there is a clear relationship between the respondents’ self-reported English literacy skills and their English test score. We take this not only as an indication that the respondents have a realistic perception of their own language skills, but also as an indication that their replies concerning skills are reliable.
3.5.4 Socio-economic background We have asked questions about the respondents’ socio-economic background in order to establish whether this factor proves relevant in relation to their level of English proficiency. We consider the socio-economic measures background variables, but will deal with them here as the test results have now been presented. Socio-economic background
Level of English proficiency
Regarding the first measure of socio-economic background, the parents’ highest level of education, it should be noted that this was the question for which the largest number of respondents were in
63
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
doubt and asked for help. The parents’ educational background was often determined from their current job position, which does not necessarily reflect their highest level of education. Between 6.8% and 29.2% respondents have not answered these questions. For the abovementioned reasons, these numbers should be read with caution due to the many missing responses and the uncertainty of the pupils while answering these two questions. As illustrated in figures 17 and 18, there is not a clear-cut difference between parents’ highest level of education. There is, however, a tendency towards Copenhagen L3 fathers being somewhat more educated than Copenhagen L3 mothers. For Copenhagen L2 respondents, their mothers appear to be more educated than their fathers. For Nuuk parents, mothers appear to have higher levels of education than the fathers, although a higher number of the fathers have university level education.
18,6
University Higher vocational training
5,2 Higher vocational training
30,5 15,6 25 3,4
Vocational training
13,6 15,6 17,7
12,5 16,9 9,4 31,3 15,3 12,5 7,3
High school/college
27,1
Basic education
18,6 3,1
Vocational training
14,6
High school/college
15,3 18,8
University
3,1 1
25,4
Basic education
50
37,5 14,6
18,8 0
20
40
60
80
0
100
20
40
60
80
100
Percent
Percent
Figure 17: Mother's highest level of education
Figure 18: Father's highest level of education
Concerning the mothers’ highest level of education, ANOVA tests yield no results in relation to overall test score. Concerning the fathers’ highest level of education, there are significant differences in test score means for Copenhagen L3 learners (F(4)=3.04, p<.05). Post hoc tests could not be computed as one group has less than two respondents (‘higher vocational training’: N=1,
64
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
x =25). Descriptives give a somewhat unclear picture, although those Copenhagen L3 learners who have indicated that their father’s highest level of education is ‘basic education’ (N=12, x =34.58) score considerably lower than those who answer ‘high school’ (N=4, x =42), ‘vocational training’ (N=3, x =44.33) or ‘university education’ (N=6, x =41.17). As the parents’ level of education does not necessarily relate to the level of school support provided from home, we included questions concerning help given with homework. An indication of whether the respondents receive the help they need with homework was achieved through comparing the ‘want/need help’ reply to the ‘get help’ reply. Fortunately, the results show that far the majority, more than 80%, receives the help they wish from home (see Figure 19).
Get help in relation to want or need help 100
90,6
90
81,4
82,3
80
Percent
70 60
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
50 40 30 20 10
18,6
16,7 9,4
0 Receive less help than wanted/needed
Receive amount of help wanted/needed
Figure 19: Whether or not respondents receive the help the want or need with homework
For Copenhagen and Nuuk respondents, the bivariate analyses (t-tests) show no significant differences between those who receive the help they want/need and those who do not in terms of their overall English test score. Overall, we must conclude that socio-economic factors do not appear to play an important role in relation to the level of English proficiency for our respondents. As discussed in chapter 2, a multitude of factors such as language typology, metalinguistic awareness, motivation and attitudes may prove influential in the language acquisition process. In
65
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
the following, we will investigate the relevance of these factors based on the hypotheses that emerged from the theoretical framework in the previous chapter.
3.5.5 Analyses in relation to hypothesis A As presented in chapter 2, previous research suggests that usage of and proficiency level in one’s L1 may influence one’s proficiency level in L3. Moreover, L2 proficiency and usage may also be related to one’s L3 proficiency. In order to determine if these relationships are significant for our respondents we will examine the following hypothesis:
Hypothesis A: Linguistic interdependence Linguistic interdependence of the respondents’ languages will influence the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Level of English proficiency
Linguistic interdependence
Hypothesis A comprises four sub-hypotheses. The first set of analyses in relation to hypothesis A is the number of years of education in L1 in relation to overall test score as illustrated below:
Sub-hypothesis A.1: L1 education The quantity of L1 education will influence the level of English proficiency. L1 education
Level of English proficiency
The second set of analyses in relation to hypothesis A involves the respondents’ active and passive use of L1 in relation to their level of English proficiency.
66
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis A.2: Active versus passive use of L1 Whether respondents’ use their L1 actively or passively influences their level of English proficiency. Active or passive use of L1
Level of English proficiency
The third set of analyses in relation to hypothesis A is L1 and L2 literacy skills in relation to level of English proficiency. The sub-hypothesis is twofold as literacy in both the L1 and L2 may affect the proficiency level in L3.
Sub-hypothesis A.3: Literacy skills The respondents’ level of literacy skills in their L1 and L2 will influence their level of English proficiency. L1 and L2 literacy skills
Level of English proficiency
The fourth set of analyses in relation to hypothesis A is code-switching in relation to level of English proficiency.
Sub-hypothesis A.4: Code-switching The extent to which respondents’ code-switch will influence their level of English proficiency. Code-switching
Level of English proficiency
Re sub-hypothesis A.1: L1 education When asked for how many years the Copenhagen L3 learners have received education in their L1, 19 (59.4%) confirm that they have received education in their L1, the number of years ranging from 1.5 years to ten years ( x =5.24 years) 3 , as illustrated in Figure 20.
3
5 respondents (15.6%) did not answer this question and 8 (25%) answered that they have not received L1 education.
67
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Number of years of formal L1 education 5
Number of respondents
4
3 L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
2
1
0 1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Number of years
Figure 20: Number of years of received L1 education for Copenhagen L3 learners
In Nuuk, a large group, 73 respondents (76%), answer that they have received L1 education for ten years ( x =9.55 years). This is not surprising as Greenlandic is compulsory from year one (and Danish from year four) in the Greenlandic school system. 4 Ten respondents (10.4%) answer that they have received between two and nine years of education in their L1. Therefore, the analysis of this part of hypothesis A will only concern the L3 learners in Copenhagen as most respondents in Nuuk have received compulsory education in their L1. As tested through a Pearson correlation, there is no significant relationship between the quantity of L1 education and level of English proficiency for the Copenhagen L3 learners.
Re sub-hypothesis A.2: Active versus passive use of L1 Previous research also indicates that respondents with a passive knowledge of their L1 have a higher proficiency level of English than respondents who use their L1 actively. In this subhypothesis only the L3 learners will be included.
4
11 respondents (11.5%) did not answer this question.
68
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Active use of L1 90,6 95,8
Mother
87,5 79,2
Father 53,1
Siblings
89,6
34,4
Friends 0
10
20
30 40
L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
95,8 50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 21: L3 respondents' active use of L1 (L1 spoken)
The two respondent groups seem to use their L1 almost equally frequent when speaking with their parents. When speaking with their siblings, the L3 learners in Copenhagen use their L1 less than the Nuuk respondents. Instead they tend to use their L2. The same tendency is confirmed when they speak with their friends. In this situation, the L3 learners in Copenhagen also tend to use their L1 less than the Nuuk respondents. Thus, L3 learners in Copenhagen generally use their L1 less actively than the Nuuk respondents. Passive use of L1 65,6
At home 31,3
With friends
87,5
25
At school Outside home and school
18,8
When counting/doing maths
18,8
0
88,5
92,7
L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
90,6 62,5
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent
Figure 22: L3 respondents' passive use of L1 (L1 thought in)
As for passive use of L1, the Copenhagen L3 learners tend to think in their L1 much less than do Nuuk L3 learners. This is true for every situation in which passive use of L1 has been measured.
A Pearson correlation between active versus passive use of L1 in relation to English proficiency has been conducted. The ‘speak’ and ‘think’ variables have been converted into scores such that respondents score ‘1’ in active use for each person they speak their L1 with, and ‘1’ in passive use for each situation in which they think in their L1. The respondents are thus able to achieve a score
69
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
between null and four in the ‘active’ measure and between null and five in the ‘passive’ measure. The Pearson correlation shows no significance for either of the two groups’ active or passive use in relation to English proficiency.
Re sub-hypothesis A.3: Literacy skills As we are interested in the influence of L1 and L2 literacy skills on the level of English proficiency, the analyses in relation to this sub-hypothesis will be twofold. First, we will look at L1 literacy skills in relation to English proficiency followed by L2 literacy skills in relation to English proficiency. A.3.1: L1 literacy skills Æ Level of English proficiency As outlined in chapter 2, research indicates a significant relationship between respondents’ L1 literacy skills and their L3 proficiency. In order to carry out the analysis of this sub-hypothesis, we will present the respondents’ self-rated L1 reading and writing skills and compare these to their level of English proficiency. Although previous research suggests that L1 literacy skills may be related to L3 proficiency, we will also include the L2 learners in this analysis in order to determine if their L1 literacy skills are related to their English proficiency (L2 proficiency).
L1 reading skills
L1 writing skills Excellent
45,8
9,4
Excellent
22,9
17,7
39 28,1 38,5
Good Okay
13,6
Bad
1,7 2,1 12,5
Don't know
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
62,7
31,3 32,3
1,7 9,4 4,2
Bad
6,3 4,2 0
3,4
Okay
43,8
30,2
Don't know
Good
28,1 32,2 31,3 40,6
2,1 0
10 20
30
40
50 60
70
80 90 100
Pe rce nt
Figure 23: Self-reported L1 writing skills
Figure 24: Self-reported L1 reading skills
As illustrated in figures 23 and 24, the L2 learners generally consider themselves far better at both reading and writing in their L1 than both L3 learner groups. However, whereas the L3 learners in
70
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Copenhagen assess their L1 reading skills better than the Nuuk respondents, the Nuuk respondents consider themselves better at writing in their L1 than the Copenhagen L3 learners. These results are interesting as only a few L3 learners in Copenhagen have received L1 education while the Nuuk respondents have received compulsory education in their L1 at school. Based in this notion, one could perhaps have expected that the L3 learners in Nuuk would assess their literacy skills better than Copenhagen L3 learners in both literacy domains. L1 literacy skills in relation to English proficiency have been tested through an ANOVA. Results show that L1 literacy skills in relation to English proficiency is highly significant for the L2 learners in both writing (F(3)=5.78, p<.01) and reading (F(3)=10.24, p<.001). The post hoc tests cannot tell us between which groups the significant differences lie, but descriptives show that the tendency for the L2 learners is that the better they rate their L1 literacy skills, the higher their level of English proficiency. For the L3 learners, we only find one significant relationship between L1 literacy skills and English proficiency. Copenhagen L3 learners’ self-rated L1 reading skills in relation to English proficiency are significant (F(3)=2.98, p<.05). Between which groups there are significant differences is unclear according to the post hoc tests, and descriptives do not portray a clear pattern. A.2.2: L2 literacy skills Æ Level of English proficiency In the analysis of the relationship between L2 literacy skills and English proficiency, only L3 learners will be included.
L2 writing skills Excellent
31,3
5,2
Good
Excellent
53,1
34,4 6,3
Okay
L2 reading skills
Good
Don't know
5,2 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bad Don't know
3,1 6,3
90 100
Percent
46,9
34,4 6,3 3,1
9,4 9,4
Bad
35,4
Okay
44,8
43,8
19,8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 25: Self-reported L2 writing skills
Figure 26: Self-reported L2 reading skills
71
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
As illustrated in figures 25 and 26, Copenhagen L3 learners generally rate their L2 literacy skills considerably better than Nuuk L3 learners. The results of the ANOVA of L2 literacy skills in relation to English proficiency are only significant for the Nuuk L3 learners and their self-rated L2 reading skills (F(3)=3.27, p<.05). The significant differences can be found between the group rating their L2 reading skills as ‘excellent’ and the groups rating their skills as ‘good’ and ‘okay’. According to the descriptives, the group rating their skills as excellent have a higher test score mean ( x =35, N=19) than the groups rating their skills as ‘good’ ( x =26.29, N=34) and ‘okay’ ( x =26.39, N=33).
Re sub-hypothesis A.4: Code-switching According to the study by Normann Jørgensen (2002), the degree to which respondents code-switch may be related to their English proficiency. We asked the respondents whether or not they codeswitch and where and with whom they do so. As Figure 27 illustrates, the Copenhagen L3 learners mainly code-switch at home while the Nuuk L3 learners and the Copenhagen L2 learners primarily code-switch at school. Although far the majority of Nuuk respondents code-switch at school, a large number also code-switch outside home and school. A large number of the L2 learners also codeswitch outside home and school. Only a few respondents code-switch in other places. By ‘other places’ the respondents most often imply when they are on holiday in other countries, a few when they are at work, when they take music lessons or when they go to clubs.
Situations in which respondents code-switch
At school
47,5
18,8
70,8 20,3
At home
78,1
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
54,2
Outside home and school
40,6 37,3 64,6
In other places
22
9,4
20,8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 27: The various situations in which respondents code-switch
72
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When asked with whom the respondents code-switch, the L3 learners in both Copenhagen and Nuuk often code-switch with their family members and friends. The L3 learners in Nuuk also codeswitch quite extensively with their teachers, a tendency that is not confirmed in Copenhagen although some L2 learners state that they code-switch with their teachers. The L2 learners mostly code-switch with their friends and to a much lesser degree than the L3 learners with their family members. Only a few code-switch with ‘other people’, most often implying other family members (from other countries in some cases) and people who speak other languages. Persons with whom respondents code-switch 11,9
Mother
51 10,2
Father
46,9 41,7
16,9
Siblings
38,5 44,1 50
Friends Teachers
56,3
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
59,4
L3 Nuuk (N=96)
76
23,7
9,4
54,2
16,9 6,3 13,5
Other people 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 28: The various persons with whom respondents code-switch
In order to test the relationship between code-switching and English proficiency, a code-switching score has been made based on the number of situations in which the respondents code-switch and the number of people the respondents code-switch with. Respondents achieve a score of ‘1’ for each situation in which they code-switch and ‘1’ for each person with whom they code-switch, thus achieving a score between null and ten. A Pearson correlation shows that code-switching in relation to level of English proficiency is only significant for the L3 learners in Nuuk (r=0.229, p<.05, N=96).
Conclusion for hypothesis A There does not appear to be a relationship between the quantity of L1 education received and the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Nor can a relationship between active versus passive use of L1 in relation to proficiency in English be confirmed. Literacy skills, on the other hand, seem to influence the level of English proficiency for some respondents. For the L2 learners, their writing
73
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
and reading skills in Danish are highly significant in relation to their English proficiency. For the L3 learners, only reading skills are significant in relation to English proficiency. While L1 reading skills are significantly related to English proficiency for the L3 learners in Copenhagen, L2 reading skills are significantly related to English proficiency for the L3 learners in Nuuk. Although the extent to which respondents code-switch has been reported as a strong indicator of English proficiency in another Danish investigation (Normann Jørgensen, 2002), the same tendency cannot be confirmed in this investigation. Code-switching does not appear to be significant for the L3 learners in Copenhagen, but has instead proved influential for the L3 learners in Nuuk. Overall, hypothesis A is partly confirmed.
3.5.6 Analyses in relation to hypothesis B As introduced in chapter 2, the typological distance between a language learner’s L1 and the target language is believed to influence the acquisition rate of the target language. The typologically closer the L1 is to the target language, the faster the language learner will acquire the target language. This theoretical assumption has resulted in the following hypothesis: Hypothesis B: Typology The typological distance between the respondents’ L1 and English will influence the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Typological distance between L1 and English
Level of English proficiency
As we expect that not only the typological distance between respondents’ L1 and English, but also their psychotypology plays a role in the acquisition of English as a third language, hypothesis B will be analysed according to the following two sub-hypotheses:
Sub-hypothesis B.1: Typological distance The typological distance between the respondents’ L1 and English will affect the level of English proficiency. Typological distance between L1 and English
Level of English proficiency
74
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis B.2: Psychotypology The learners’ psychotypology is related to the level of English proficiency Level of English proficiency
Psychotypology
Re sub-hypothesis B.1: Typological distance In order to place the respondents’ L1s as being typologically close or distant to English, we have used Chiswick & Miller’s language distance measure as described in 2.2. Unfortunately, three of our respondents’ L1s do not figure on Chiswick & Miller’s list. After consulting a number of linguists 5 , we have assigned these three languages – Albanian, Greenlandic and Somali – with language scores. It should be mentioned that the method of using linguists to assign language distance scores to additional languages is problematic as described and criticised in 2.2. This is, however, our only way of applying the language distance measure. Having assigned Albanian, Greenlandic and Somali with language scores, the language distance measure places our respondents’ L1s as shown in Figure 29.
Figure 29: Language distance between English and the respondents’ L1s
0
English
.33
.36 .40
.44
.50
Danish
.57
Urdu
Albanian Bosnian Kurdish Persian (Farsi) Turkish
5
.67
.80
Greenlandic
1
●
Arabic Moroccan Somali Vietnamese
Professor Michael Fortescue, Department of General and Applied Linguistics, University of Copenhagen (regarding Greenlandic), Thomas Olander, Ph.D., Department of East European Studies, University of Copenhagen (regarding Albanian), Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, Ph.D. in linguistics from the Université de Montréal (regarding Somali) and Hartmut Haberland, Associate Professor of German, Department of Culture and Identity, Roskilde University (regarding Greenlandic, Albanian and Somali).
75
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
The percentage of respondents for each language distance is shown in Figure 30. A Pearson correlation of the relationship between typological distance between L1 and English and overall English test score only proves significant for Nuuk respondents, with a weak correlation (r=-.24, N=96, p<.05). 100
100 88,5
90 80
Percent
70 60 50
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
43,8
L3 Nuuk (N=96)
40 30 20
25 15,6 11,5
15,6
10 0 .44
.50
.57
.67
Language distance
Figure 30: The percentage of respondents for each language distance
However, as there are only two L1s and thus only two language distance measures involved for the Nuuk respondents, one could consider the language distance variable binary. We have therefore also applied an independent t-test. The t-test shows that the Nuuk respondents with Danish as L1 have a higher English test score mean ( x =35.36, N=11, SD=11.16) than those with Greenlandic as L1 ( x =27.04, N=85, SD=11.01). This means that there is a significant difference between Nuuk groups based on the typological distance between their L1 and English (t(94)=-2.36, p<.05). More specifically, those whose L1 is typologically closer to English perform considerably better on the English test than those whose L1 is typologically distant from English.
Re sub-hypothesis B.2: Psychotypology The respondents’ psychotypology has been coded as ‘Correspondence’ or ‘Non-correspondence’. ‘Correspondence’ indicates that the respondent perception of the distance between his or her languages is in accordance with the language distance measure employed. ‘Non-correspondence’ indicates the opposite, namely that the respondent’s perception of distance between his or her languages does not correspond to the language distance measure.
76
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
As can be seen in Figure 31, only about 20% of the Nuuk and Copenhagen L3 respondents show correspondence between their psychotypology and the actual typological distance between their languages as defined by the language distance measure. Psychotypology
21,9 18,8
Correspondence
Noncorrespondence
37,5 34,4
L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
My languages are not similar
18,8 13,5 21,9
I don't know
26 0
10
20
30
40
Pe rce nt
Figure 31: The psychotypology of L3 respondents
It is surprising that as many as about 35% show non-correspondence while more than 20% have replied that they don’t know which of their languages are more similar. The relatively large number who have answered that their languages are not similar (13.5% and 18.8%) is perhaps more understandable, as their languages are of course different, although there may be similarities. In the bivariate analyses, we have only included the ‘Correspondence’ and ‘Non-correspondence’ codes, making it a binary variable. This makes it possible to use the independent t-test in relation to the English proficiency measures. Furthermore, as L2 learners were asked not to assess the similarity of their languages, the psychotypology variable only concerns L3 learners. The independent t-test only yields significant differences in relation to the overall test score for L3 learners in Nuuk. The mean for the L3 learners showing ‘Correspondence’ is 35.72 (SD=11.30 N=18) while it is 27.21 (SD=9.45, N=33) for the ‘Non-correspondence’ group (t(49)=+2.87, p<.01). Thus, the L3 learners in Nuuk showing psychotypological correspondence have considerably higher overall English test results than those showing non-correspondence, meaning that the psychotypology sub-hypothesis is confirmed as regards Nuuk respondents.
77
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Conclusion for hypothesis B To conclude the analyses in relation to hypothesis B, namely the relationship between typological distance between L1 and English as well as psychotypology in relation to English proficiency, these factors prove significant for the Nuuk respondents. For Nuuk L3 learners, the typologically closer their L1 is to English, the better their test score. Also, those Nuuk L3 learners showing correspondence between their psychotypology and the typological distance between their L1 and English have a higher level of English proficiency as measured through test score. In other words, the hypothesis is confirmed for Nuuk respondents.
3.5.7 Analyses in relation to hypothesis C As we have not been able to assess the respondents’ metalinguistic awareness, we will examine their level of metalinguistic knowledge in relation to their level of English proficiency. The hypothesis is as follows: Hypothesis C: Metalinguistic knowledge There is a relationship between the respondents’ level of metalinguistic knowledge and the respondents’ level of proficiency in English. Level of metalinguistic knowledge
Level of English proficiency
In order to examine the relationship between metalinguistic knowledge and English proficiency, the respondents’ score in the three metalinguistic tasks in the test (metalinguistic score) will be compared with their score in the rest of the test (referred to as non-metalinguistic score) as illustrated below:
Non-metalinguistic score
Metalinguistic score
As the respondents’ overall test score and metalinguistic score have been presented earlier, we will only present the bivariate analysis for this hypothesis. We have tested the relationship between the
78
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
metalinguistic score and the non-metalinguistic score through a Pearson correlation. We will not carry out the same test in relation to the overall test score, as the metalinguistic score is part of the overall test score, which would therefore affect the result. The result of the Pearson correlation shows a significant relationship between the two variables for all respondent groups, indicating that there is a relationship between the respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge and their English proficiency. The relationship is highly significant for the L2 learners (0.67, p<0.001 (N=59)) as well as for the L3 learners (0.46, p<0.01, (N=32)) in Copenhagen. In Nuuk, the relationship is highly significant for all L3 learners (0.66, p<0.001 (N=96)).
Conclusion for hypothesis C Based on the analysis in relation to hypothesis C, there are grounds for concluding that there is a relationship between metalinguistic knowledge and the level of English proficiency. Our conclusion is therefore that metalinguistic knowledge is related to the respondents’ level of English proficiency and thus our hypothesis is confirmed.
3.5.8 Analyses in relation to hypothesis D Hypothesis D: Motivation Motivation for learning English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Motivation for learning English
Level of English proficiency
As illustrated in Figure 1, chapter 2, motivation in the language learning context consists of four aspects, three of which are components of motivation as such, namely desire (want), motivational intensity (effort) and attitudes (affect), the fourth aspect being the goal to which the language learning motivation is directed towards, the orientation. While we have no specific measure for desire in our data, the measure for orientation, ‘I think that learning English can be important to me…’, includes the option ‘I don’t think it is important to learn English’. If a respondent chooses
79
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
this last option it indicates a lack of desire for learning English. As only four respondents in all have chosen this option and two have not replied, we expect that the remaining 181 respondents have some degree of desire for learning English. The remaining three motivational aspects make for the following sub-hypotheses:
Sub-hypothesis D.1: Effort The amount of effort exerted in learning English will affect the level of English proficiency. Motivational intensity (effort)
Level of English proficiency
Sub-hypothesis D.2: Affect Affect, including attitudes and level of anxiety, will affect the level of English proficiency. Affect: attitudes and anxiety
Level of English proficiency
Sub-hypothesis D.3: Orientation The type of orientation for learning English will affect the level of English proficiency. Goal (orientation)
Level of English proficiency
Re sub-hypothesis D.1.: Effort Overall test score
Study habits
We asked the respondents to indicate their general study habits in relation to how much their classmates study. The question appears in the section ‘About learning English’, but the word ‘English’ was not included in the study habit question. Therefore, we cannot be certain as to whether the respondents are indicating their general study habits or their study habits regarding English specifically. Nevertheless, we will use this variable as a measure of effort. We do not
80
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
necessarily expect those who study more to perform better as a study by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute of Danish year nine pupils indicates the reverse; namely that those who claim to study less perform better in an English test (EVA, 2003). It should be mentioned that the study by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute asked the pupils to indicate an approximate number of minutes spent on English homework per week (Alabau et al., 2002). Compared to the others in my class, I think I study…
18,6
More
28,1 16,7 L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
55,9 53,1 61,5
As much
20,3 18,8 19,8
Less
0
10
20
30
40
50 60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 32: Study habits
Regarding the question of study habits, the majority in all groups answer that they study ‘about as much as the others’ (see Figure 32). The distributions between those who answer that they study ‘more than most’ and ‘less than the others’ are similar, except for amongst the L3 learners in Copenhagen where a larger number of respondents indicate that they study more rather than less than their classmates. An ANOVA of study habits in relation to the overall test score demonstrates that there are significant differences between the test score means of study habit groupings for L3 learners in Copenhagen and Nuuk and that the differences are highly significant for the Nuuk respondents (Copenhagen L3: F(2)=4.32, p<.05; Nuuk: F(2)=12.08, p<.001). The post hoc tests show that for Copenhagen L3 learners the significant differences are found between those who have answered that they ‘Study as much’ ( x = 40.71, N=17) and those who have answered that they ‘Study less’ ( x = 31.50, N=6). For Nuuk respondents, there are significant differences between each of the three
81
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
study habit groupings: ‘Study more’ ( x =37.13, N=16), ‘Study as much’ ( x =28.88, N=59) and ‘Study less’ ( x =20.11, N=19). Contrary to the findings in the study by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute, our results show that selfreported study habits have a positive relation to the English test score; the more the L3 learners claim to study, the better their English test score, as illustrated in Figure 33. 60 50
46,1
Test score mean
40,6
40
40,5 40,7 37,1
36,8 L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
31,5 28,2
30
20,1
20 10 0 Study more
Study about as much
Study less
S tudy habit groupings
Figure 33: Test score means for groups based on study habits
Based on our findings, effort or motivational intensity as measured through general study habits is related to English proficiency as measured through the overall English test score for L3 learners. Thus, the sub-hypothesis is confirmed for L3 learners in both Nuuk and Copenhagen.
Re sub-hypothesis D.2: Affect As the child’s attitudes towards the language being learnt at school are said to be established in the home as a result of the parents’ attitudes towards the language (and the other-language group), the affect hypothesis may be divided as follows:
Whether parents find it important to learn English
Respondent attitudes
82
Level of English proficiency
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
We will therefore 1) look at parental attitudes towards learning English in relation to the attitude measures of the respondents and 2) see whether respondent attitudes are related to their English proficiency. Attitudes have been measured in relation to a) preference for English in speaking, writing, reading and listening, b) the English language, c) English as school subject, d) the English classroom situation and e) language learning in general. The two latter attitude measures will not be analysed in relation to parental attitudes as we find it nonsensical that parental attitudes towards English as school subject should determine a pupil’s level of anxiety in the classroom situation and as we do not find it relevant to analyse parental attitudes towards English specifically in relation to language learning in general. To the question of how important the respondents think their parents find it that they learn English, the majority of L2 learners and Nuuk L3 learners answer ‘As important as other subjects’, while the majority of Copenhagen L3 learners answer ‘Very important’ as illustrated in Figure 34. One could expect that those who answer ‘Very important’ are motivated for learning English through knowing that their parents find it very important. Those who answer ‘As important as other subjects’ may or may not be motivated through their parents’ attitudes towards English as their answers do not tell us whether the parents generally find school subjects important or not. Based on the univariate data, we therefore expect that the Copenhagen L3 learners are somewhat more motivated for learning English than their L2 and Nuuk peers.
How important do your parents think it is that you learn English? 37,3
Very Important
56,3 34,4
As important as other subjects
50,8 37,5
L2 Copenhagen (N=59)
44,8
L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
3,4
Not important 1
3,4 6,3
I don't know
18,8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 34: How important respondents believe their parents find it that they learn English
83
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.1: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes D.2.1.a: Parental attitudes in relation to respondents’ preference for English We see the respondents’ indications of language preferences as an indicator of attitudes, the most preferred language being the language towards which the respondent holds the most positive attitudes. Not surprisingly, L2 learners clearly prefer their L1, Danish, to English in all four language domains as between 64.4 and 88.1% choose Danish as their most preferred language. The highest preference for English is seen in the listening category (32.2%), which fits our expectation of a larger degree of preference for English in this domain, due to the large amount of AngloAmerican music listened to by young people. For Copenhagen L3 learners, the majority prefer their second language, mainly Danish, in all four language domains, particularly in the literacy domains, writing (78.1%) and reading (71.9%). Furthermore, English is most often the second language preference in the literacy domains, while it is most often the third preference in speaking and listening. This may well be related to the fact that the L3 learners in Copenhagen have overall not received much mother tongue education, which would strengthen their L1 literacy skills. One could imagine that well-developed L1 literacy skills might make L1 the preferred language in the reading and writing domains. In Nuuk, there is a clear tendency among the respondents to prefer their L1, then their L2 and finally their L3 as regards speaking, writing and listening. In the reading category, it is the L2 which is the most preferred with 54.2% choosing this answer. This may reflect that many pupils with Greenlandic as L1 prefer to read Danish, which is further confirmed when looking at the figures for the individual languages: 64.6% of the Nuuk respondents have put Danish as their preference in reading, although only 11.5% have Danish as L1. We expected a larger degree of preference for English in the listening category, considering the large amount of music in English that (also) young people listen to today. This partly holds true for the Nuuk L3 learners as 15.6% have chosen English as their first preference in listening compared to only 2.1 to 4.2% in speaking, writing and reading. For Copenhagen L3 learners, listening is also the domain in which most respondents have chosen English (21.9%) but there is not as clear a difference to the other domains, with 18.8% preferring English in reading, 9.4% in speaking and 6.3% in writing.
84
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
In order to convert the preference variables to a measure of preference for English, we have coded all replies of English as first preference ‘1’ for all respondents and all replies of English as second preference ‘0.5’ for L3 learners. This has been done for each of the four language domains, speaking, writing, reading and listening, thus achieving a ‘preference for English score’ between null and four for each respondent. An ANOVA test shows no significant differences between groups based on their parents’ attitudes in relation to the preference for English score, and we can therefore conclude that parental attitudes towards their children’s learning of English is not related to whether or not the respondents prefer English over their other languages.
D.2.1.b: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes towards the English language As illustrated in Figure 35, the three respondent groups indicate similar attitudes towards English, although the Nuuk L3 learners tend to answer slightly closer to the middle option, ‘neither’. For the first seven word-pairs, the respondents have chosen the middle options in the attitudes section, being ‘neither’ or ‘rather’ with small numbers choosing ‘very’, although there seems to be a slight tendency towards what may be characterised as the more positive part of each word-pair.
Figure 35: Test score means for respondent attitudes towards the English language
There are greater differences in the last three word-pairs, with the respondents more clearly finding English ‘Useful’, ‘Educated’ and ‘Popular’. This difference between the first seven and the last three word-pairs may well reflect that the first seven denote affective aspects of attitude, where the
85
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
individual may ascribe the words different meanings, while the last three word-pairs denote cognitive aspects of attitude, meaning that they are objective and less ambiguous. There is a relatively large amount of missing responses, the highest being 13.6%, which may indicate indecision or that the respondents were unsure of the meaning of some of the words. Gamma tests show no correlations between parental attitudes and the L2 respondents’ attitudes towards the English language. There are, however, some significant correlations between these variables for the L3 learners. For Nuuk L3 learners, there is a strong correlation between parental attitudes and four of the affective word-pairs. For the ‘Easy-Difficult’ word-pair, there is a slight tendency towards finding English more ‘difficult’, the more important the parents find it (γ: -0.36, p<.05, N=76). For the same group, there is a slight tendency towards the respondents finding English ‘rough’ the more important their parents find English, and ‘smooth’ the less important the parents find it (γ: 0.54, p<.01, N=71). For the ‘Fast-Slow’ word-pair, the more positive the parental attitudes the more ‘fast’ the respondents find English (γ: 0.38, p<.05, N=75). Also amongst the Nuuk respondents, there is a slight tendency towards finding English more ‘harsh’ the more important their parents find it (γ: -0.484, p<.01, N=71). For the Copenhagen L3 learners, it is not the same word-pairs that show significant correlations. Here, we find strong correlations between parental attitudes and two word-pairs, one affective and one cognitive. For the ‘Cold-Intimate’ word-pair, there is a slight tendency toward finding English more ‘intimate’ the more positive the parental attitudes (γ=-0.53, p<.05, N=27). Also, the more important the parents find it that their children learn English the more ‘educated’ the respondents find English (γ=0.82, p<.01, N=28). Overall, we can conclude that while there are no correlations for the L2 learners there are correlations between parental attitudes and the L3 learners’ attitudes towards English. However, the picture is somewhat unclear as the results differ between Copenhagen and Nuuk L3 learners.
D.2.1.c: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes towards English as school subject As illustrated in Figure 36, the majority of the respondents like English the same as their other school subjects while more like it the most compared to those who like it less. Compared to the L3
86
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
learners, a larger percentage of the L2 learners prefer English over the other subjects, which indicates that this group may hold more positive attitudes towards English as school subject. Compared to my other subjects, I like English …
37,3
The most
21,9 22,9
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
49,2
The same as all the others
71,9
L3 Nuuk (N=96)
59,4
8,5
Less than all the others
3,1 16,7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 36: Respondent attitudes towards English as school subject
A gamma test shows a strong correlation between parental attitudes and respondent attitudes towards English compared to their other school subjects for the Copenhagen L3 learners (γ: -0.76, p<.05, N=29). Those who indicate that their parents find English very important or as important as other subjects tend to like English the most or the same as other subjects. We can therefore conclude that Copenhagen L3 learners whose parents hold positive attitudes towards the pupil’s acquisition of English generally hold positive attitudes towards English compared to other school subjects. As an overall conclusion for the analyses in ‘D.2.1: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes’, we can assert that parental attitudes are unrelated to the respondents’ preference for English. As regards attitudes towards the English language there are some significant findings for L3 learners, although there is no clear tendency. Concerning the respondent attitudes towards English as school subject, there is a strong correlation between this variable and parental attitudes for Copenhagen L3 learners. In other words, parental attitudes towards the acquisition of English appear to have some influence on respondent attitudes towards English, although not a strong one.
87
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.2: Respondent attitudes in relation to level of English proficiency D.2.2.a: Preference for English in relation to English proficiency 6 A Pearson correlation shows a moderate positive correlation between respondents’ preference for English and the overall English test score for Copenhagen L3 learners (r=0.56, N=32, p<.01), while there is a weak positive correlation for Nuuk L3 learners (r=0.37, N=96, p<.001). We can therefore conclude that for L3 learners there is a correlation between their preference for English and their level of English proficiency: the higher their preference for English, the higher their level of English proficiency. D.2.2.b: Attitudes towards the English language in relation to English proficiency 7 ANOVA tests of attitudes towards the English language in relation to overall English test score prove significant differences for all respondents in the first word-pair, ‘Easy-Difficult’ (L2 learners: F(4)=2.89, p<.05; Copenhagen L3 learners: F(4)=6.19, p<.01; Nuuk: F(4)=5.22, p<.01). Easy-Difficult 50
45,4 42,2 42,14
Test score mean
40
34,89
43,2 40,64
39,57
36,89 32,81
30
28,5
26,32
29,5
27,33 25,5
21,82
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
20
10
0 Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult Very difficult
Figure 37: Test score means for groups based on the degree to which respondents find English easy or difficult
As illustrated in Figure 37, the means for the various groups show that overall, those who answer that English is very or rather easy have higher overall English test score means than those who 6 7
See D.2.1.a for a univariate description of the preference for English variable. See D.2.1.b for a univariate description of the attitudes towards English variable.
88
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
answer that English is very or rather difficult (except for Nuuk respondents answering ‘very difficult’). Post hoc tests further show that for Copenhagen L3 learners, the significant differences in test score means are found between those who answer that English is ‘very easy’ and ‘rather difficult’ (difference: 13.64), between those who answer ‘very easy’ and ‘very difficult’ (difference: 16.64) as well as between those who answer ‘rather easy’ and those who answer ‘very difficult’ (difference: 17.7). For Copenhagen L2 learners, the significant difference is between those who answer ‘rather easy’ and ‘very difficult’ (difference: 5.83). Amongst Nuuk respondents, the significant differences are found between those who answer ‘very easy’ and ‘rather difficult’ (difference: 13.07) as well as between those who answer ‘rather easy’ and ‘rather difficult’ (difference: 10.99). The post hoc tests confirm the observed tendency that the easier respondents find English, the better their test score. Regarding the second word-pair, ‘Rough-Smooth’, there are significant differences for all L3 learners (Copenhagen: F(3)=3.73, p<.05, Nuuk: F(4)=3.68, p<.01). Rough-Smooth 60 50
45,17
Test score mean
42,29
40 30
41,67 37,8
35,09 29,08 23
L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
31,39
L3 Nuuk (N=96)
21
20 10 0 Very rough Rather rough
Neither rough nor smooth
Rather smooth
Very smooth
Figure 38: Test score means for groups based on the degree to which L3 learners find English rough or smooth
As can be seen in Figure 38, those Nuuk respondents who answer that English is rather or very smooth have higher test score means than those who answer that English is rather or very rough.
89
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
This is different for the L3 learners in Copenhagen where those who answer that English is rather rough or rather smooth have the highest overall test score means while those who answer that English is neither rough nor smooth or very smooth have the lowest test score means (none have answered very rough). Post hoc tests show that the significant differences are found between those who answer that English is ‘neither rough nor smooth’ and ‘rather smooth’ amongst Copenhagen L3 learners and between those who answer that English is ‘rather rough’ and ‘rather smooth’ amongst Nuuk L3 learners. The post hoc tests indicate that the more smooth the respondents find English, the better their test score. Whereas there are no significant findings for respondent attitudes in relation to overall test score for the ‘Precise-Loose’ word-pair, tests prove significant results for L2 learners concerning the ‘Clumsy-Elegant’ (F(3)=3.01, p<.05) and ‘Fast-Slow’(F(4)=4.51, p<.01) word-pairs. For the two latter, no post hoc tests have been computed, as one group in each test has less than two respondents. Furthermore, the descriptives show no clear tendencies for the two word-pairs. As for the ‘Cold-Intimate’ and ‘Gentle-Harsh’ word-pairs, there are no significant results. Regarding the eighth word-pair, ‘Useless-Useful’, tests prove a significant difference between Nuuk respondents who answer ‘neither useless nor useful’ ( x =21.41) and ‘very useful’ ( x =33.05), meaning that those Nuuk respondents answering that English is very useful perform better in the test than those who answer that English is neither useless nor useful (Nuuk: F(4)=5.17, p<.01). For the ‘Educated-Uneducated’ word-pair, the ANOVA proves significant for the L2 respondents (F(4)=4.10, p<.01). Post hoc tests are not computed as one group has less than one respondent. For the remaining four groups, descriptives show that those who answer that English is ‘very educated’ ( x =45.19, N=16) or ‘rather educated’ ( x =43.27, N=15) perform slightly better than those who answer ‘neither educated nor uneducated’ ( x =39.77, N=13) or ‘rather uneducated’ ( x =42.33, N=6). For the final word-pair, ‘Popular-Unpopular’, the tests yield significant results for the L2 learners (F(2)=4.03, p<.05). Descriptives show that those L2 respondents who answer ‘very popular’
90
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
( x =43.84, N=43) have a better test score mean than those who answer ‘rather popular’ ( x =37.17, N=6) or ‘neither popular nor unpopular’ ( x =38.50, N=6) (only these three options have been chosen by L2 learners). In conclusion, the easier respondents find English, the better their English proficiency. Also, the more smooth and useful Nuuk respondents find English, the better their level of English proficiency. For L2 respondents, it appears that the more educated and popular they find English, the better their test score. D.2.2.c: Attitudes towards English as school subject in relation to English proficiency 8 ANOVA tests yield significant results for the L3 learners in Copenhagen (F(2)=4.01, p<.05). Post hoc tests could not be computed, but descriptives show that those Copenhagen L3 learners who like English the most have a considerably higher test score mean ( x =44.29, N=7) than those who like English the same as other subjects (38.30, N=23), followed by one respondent who likes English less (26, N=1). Thus, attitudes towards English as school subject are related to the level of English proficiency for L3 learners in Copenhagen.
D.2.2.d Attitudes towards the English classroom situation in relation to English proficiency We expect that feelings of anxiousness in the English classroom situation will negatively affect the level of English proficiency. However, we expect that a person’s level of proficiency may also affect the level of anxiety. In order to measure the respondents’ level of English classroom anxiety, respondents were given five options from which they could choose as many as they liked. The first two options, ‘I like speaking and answering questions in our English class’ and ‘I don’t mind speaking and answering questions in our English class’ indicate that the pupil is not anxious in the English classroom environment, whereas the last three options, ‘I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class’, ‘I am afraid that the other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English’ and ‘I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do’ indicate anxiousness in the English classroom situation. Those who choose answers that indicate non-anxiousness as well as answers that indicate anxiousness could be interpreted as conflicting replies; however, we believe that pupils may well perceive the classroom environment differently at different times, thus sometimes feeling at ease while at other times feeling nervous etc. 8
See D.2.1.c for a univariate description of the attitudes towards English as school subject variable.
91
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English classroom anxiety I like speaking and answering questions in our English class
59,3 68,8 41,7
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class
37,3 34,4 36,5
I get nervous and confused when I speak English in our class
33,9 21,9
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
36,5
I am afraid that the others will laugh at me when I speak English
22 0 9,4
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do
28,8 15,6 20,8
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent
Figure 39: Respondent attitudes towards the English classroom situation
As can be seen in Figure 39, the respondents overall appear to feel comfortable in the English classroom situation, the Copenhagen respondents seeming somewhat more confident in that a larger percentage like speaking and answering questions (59.3% and 68.8%) in comparison to the Nuuk respondents (41.7%). A considerable number in all groups have, however, chosen answers indicating anxiousness, particularly that they get nervous and confused when speaking English in class (21.9% to 36.5%) and also that they feel that the other pupils speak better English than they do (15.6% to 28.8%). No Copenhagen L3 learners answer that they are afraid that others will laugh at them when they speak English, while 9.4% of Nuuk respondents and 22% of L2 learners choose this option. Independent t-tests for each option in the anxiety measure in relation to overall English test score show significant differences for different groups. Regarding the first option, ‘I like speaking and answering questions in our English class’, there is a significant difference between those who choose this option and those who do not amongst the Nuuk respondents (t(94)=+2.53, p<.05). Those who like speaking and answering questions in the English classroom situation have a higher test score mean ( x =31.35, N=40, SD=10.92) than those who do not ( x =25.59, N=56, SD=11.02).
92
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
For the second option, ‘I don’t mind speaking and answering questions in our English class’, the ttest shows significant results for the Copenhagen L2 learners (t(57)=+2.36, p<.05). Those who choose this reply have higher test score means ( x =44.41, N=22, SD: 6.82) than those who do not ( x =39.19, N=37, SD: 8.95). While there are no significant results for the third and fourth options, there are significant differences for all Copenhagen respondents in the last option, ‘I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do’ (L3 learners: t(30)=-2.82, p<.01; L2 learners: t(57)=-2.09, p<.05). For both L3 and L2 learners, those who choose this answer have lower overall test score means (L3 learners: x =31, N=5, SD 8.69; L2 learners: x =37.59, N=17, SD 7.94) than those who do not choose this option (L3 learners: x =40.41, N=27, SD 6.52; L2 learners: x =42.57, N=42, SD 8.45). Thus, the two options indicating non-anxiousness and one option indicating anxiousness appear to fit our expectation, namely that anxiousness in the English classroom situation is related to lower English proficiency. As already mentioned, the respondents were allowed to choose as many answers in this category as they wished. The more of the options indicating anxiousness the individual respondent chooses, the higher a level of anxiousness we believe the respondent to have. We have therefore made a ‘level of anxiety score’, with each chosen response in the anxiousness options being coded as ‘1’, giving each respondent an anxiety score between null and three. Pearson correlations of the anxiousness score in relation to the overall test score proves significant correlations for all respondent groups, the correlation being moderate for Copenhagen L3 respondents (r=-.41, N=32, p<.05) and weak for the L2 learners (r=-.27, N=59, p<.05) and Nuuk (r=-.25, N=96, p<.05) respondents. The correlations show that the more anxious the respondent is in the English classroom situation, the lower his or her test score. In conclusion, there appears to be a relationship between English classroom anxiety and proficiency in English, although the picture is somewhat unclear. For the individual options, there are significant differences amongst the Nuuk respondents for the ‘I like speaking and answering…’ response; there are significant differences amongst L2 learners for the ‘I don’t mind speaking and answering…’ response, while there are significant differences amongst Copenhagen respondents
93
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
(L2 and L3 learners) for the ‘I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do’ response. Concerning the level of anxiety measure, this is significantly correlated to English proficiency for all respondent groups.
D.2.2.e: Attitudes towards language learning in general in relation to English proficiency As figures 40 to 43 illustrate, the respondents are overall very positive towards language learning in general with between 67.8 to 96.9% answering positively to the four questions concerning attitudes towards language learning.
If you visit another country, would you like to be able to speak the language of that country?
Do you like learning new languages? 67,8
Yes 10,2 3,1 4,2
No
0
10
20
1,7
No
20,3 12,5 8,3
I don't know
81,4 78,1 70,8
Yes
84,4 87,5
30
5,2
I don't know
40
50
60
70
80
9,4 0
90 100
12,5 16,9 22,9
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent
Pe rcen t
Figure 40: Like learning new languages
Figure 41: Visiting another country
If you planned to stay in another country, would you try to learn the language of that country?
Do you think it is important to know other languages? 84,7 93,8 81,3
Yes 6,8 3,1 4,2
No
0
10
3,4 0 1
No
8,5 3,1 14,6
I don't know
91,5 96,9 87,5
Yes
20
5,1 3,1 11,5
I don't know 30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
10
20
30
40
50 60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 42: Important to know other languages
Figure 43: Plan to stay in another country
94
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
However, between 5.1 and 22.9% have answered ‘I don’t know’. Concerning those respondents who answer ‘I don’t know’ to the first two questions (illustrated in the figures on the left-hand side), this may reflect that their answer depends on which language(s). The following two questions (illustrated in the figures on the right-hand side) are of a slightly different nature, as they add the aspect of learning a language ‘belonging to’ a certain country. The ‘I don’t know’ answers to the last two questions may reflect uncertainty as to the duration of the visit or stay as well as what country one would visit or stay in, which would determine the language one would have to learn. Independent t-tests yield no significant results for any groups. Therefore, we must conclude that attitudes towards language learning in general are not related to the level of English proficiency. As an overall conclusion for the analyses in ‘D.2.2: Respondent attitudes in relation to level of English proficiency’, we can assert that there is a positive correlation between preference for English and level of English proficiency for L3 learners. Also, our analyses show that the easier respondents find English, the better their English proficiency. Attitudes towards the English language also prove significant in relation to test score for some of the other word-pairs, although not for all respondent groups. Thus, it appears that the more smooth and useful Nuuk respondents find English and the more educated and popular L2 respondents find English, the better their English test score. Concerning attitudes towards English as school subject, we conclude that the better the Copenhagen L3 learners like English, the better their test score. The individual measures of attitudes towards the English classroom situation show significant relations to English proficiency, although the pattern is somewhat unclear as the significances are found for different groups for each measure. In contrast, the level of anxiety score proves significant correlations to English proficiency for all respondent groups; the more anxious the respondent feels in the English classroom situation, the lower his or her test score. Finally, attitudes towards language learning in general do not appear to be related to English proficiency. In conclusion for sub-hypothesis D.2: Affect, parental attitudes towards the acquisition of English appear to have some influence on respondent attitudes towards English, although not a strong one. As regards respondent attitudes in relation to English proficiency, all measures of respondent attitudes prove to be related to English proficiency, apart from attitudes towards language learning in general. Thus, the sub-hypothesis is partly confirmed, with parental attitudes playing a minor role
95
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
in relation to respondent attitudes, while respondent attitudes are shown to be related to level of English proficiency. D.3: Orientation Integrative or instrumental orientation
Overall test score
To determine the respondents’ motivational orientation, their goal for learning English, the respondents were asked to choose between four options for completing the sentence ‘I think that learning English can be important to me…’. They were also given the option of answering ‘I don’t think it is important to learn English’. The respondents were asked only to choose one option and those who chose more than one have been registered as giving invalid replies. The number of invalid replies is relatively high, app. 10% for Copenhagen and Nuuk L3 learners and 27% for L2 learners. While some may have overseen the instruction, we expect that many have felt that several options apply to them. As can be seen in Figure 44, most Copenhagen respondents choose the first option ‘because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people’, while Nuuk respondents most often choose the second option, ‘because it will someday be useful in getting a good job’. I think that learning English can be important to me … M eet and communicate with interesting people
27,1
8,5
Improve my education Replies
43,8
22,9
11,5
25 L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32)
15,3 12,5
Useful in getting a good job Understand English-speaking people and cultures
9,4
29,2
L3 Nuuk (N=96)
16,9 19,8
1,7
English not important
3,1
0
10 20
30 40 50 60 70
80 90 100
Percent
Figure 44: Reasons why respondents think that learning English can be important to them
96
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When recoding the valid replies corresponding to an integrative or instrumental motivational orientation, we see that for all groups, more respondents have an integrative than an instrumental orientation (see Figure 45). The difference between the two orientations is greatest for the L2 learners, while there is hardly any difference for the Nuuk respondents.
100 90 80 70 Percent
60 50
53,1 44,1
42,7 37,5
40 30
40,6
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
23,7
20 10 0 Integrative orientation
Instrumental orientation Re plie s
Figure 45: Motivational orientation
As for the bivariate analysis, an independent t-test of the differences between groups based on their motivational orientation in relation to their overall test score yields no significance for Copenhagen or Nuuk respondents. This result may simply reflect that the integrative and instrumental orientation may be equally motivating for the language learner.
Conclusion for hypothesis D Our analyses in relation to hypothesis D have produced varying results. However, we can conclude that regarding the effect of motivation on the level of English proficiency, effort is an important factor. Regarding affect, parental attitudes are of minor importance in relation to respondent attitudes towards English, while respondent attitudes towards English are shown to be related to level of English proficiency. Attitudes towards language learning in general do not appear to be related to level of English proficiency. As for orientation, this did not prove significant in relation to English proficiency in our analysis. In other words, sub-hypothesis D.1: Effort is confirmed, sub-
97
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
hypothesis D.2: Affect is partly confirmed and sub-hypothesis D.3 is rejected, meaning that hypothesis D is partly confirmed.
3.5.9 Analyses in relation to hypothesis E Hypothesis E: Usage and exposure The amount of usage of and exposure to English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Usage of and exposure to English
Level of English proficiency
The hypothesis states that usage of and exposure to English enhances one’s level of English proficiency. In order to examine whether or not this holds true for our respondents, we have asked them with whom they regularly speak English and in which situations they think in English on a regular basis. With this hypothesis we seek to determine how much the respondents use and are exposed to English outside the formal language learning context and whether or not this influences their level of English proficiency. Consequently, the following sub-hypotheses will be investigated:
Sub-hypothesis E.1: Usage of English Usage of English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Usage of English
Level of English proficiency
Sub-hypothesis E.2: Exposure to English Exposure to English will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Exposure to English
Level of English proficiency
98
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Re sub-hypothesis E.1: English usage In order to examine the respondents’ usage of English outside the formal language learning context, the respondents were asked to indicate the languages they regularly speak with family members and friends and the languages they regularly think in. Although they were asked to note all languages regularly used, we will only deal with their usage of English. Common for all respondents is that few speak English with their family members, but a slightly larger number occasionally speak English with their friends (see Figure 46). None of the L3 learners in Copenhagen speak English regularly with parents and/or siblings. The tendency is confirmed by the Nuuk respondents as the majority of L3 learners in Nuuk only speak Danish and/or Greenlandic with family members. However, a small number of respondents speak English in addition to Greenlandic and Danish with family members.
English spoken with... 1,7
Persons
Mother
3,1
Father
L2 Copenhagen (N=59)
2,1
Siblings
L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
4,2 11,9 9,4 13,5
Friends 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 46: Persons with whom English is regularly spoken
The most interesting notion is that English appears to play a bigger role when respondents communicate with their friends. Although it is only a small group, a few of the Copenhagen L3 learners speak English regularly. The tendency is confirmed by the L2 learners as a few in this group also regularly speak English with their friends and by Nuuk respondents as they tend to speak English with their friends more than Copenhagen respondents.
99
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
While only a few respondents speak English on a regular basis, a slightly larger number of respondents regularly think in English in various situations (see Figure 47).
Think in English when... 11,9 6,3 7,3
At home
8,5 9,4 13,5
Situation
With friends At school
10,2
Outside home and school
6,8 9,4 10,4
18,8
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
31,2
3,4 6,3
Counting/doing maths 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent
Figure 47: Situations in which English is regularly thought in
Overall, more respondents think in English when with friends and when at school than when at home, outside home and school or when counting/doing maths. It is perhaps not surprising that more respondents think in English when at school as this, in part, may reflect the fact that the respondents have English lessons. The situation in which most L2 learners think in English is not when at school as for both L3 groups, but when at home. One could imagine that the respondents perhaps occasionally think in English, for instance while watching films or when playing computer games at home. Apart from when at school, the situation in which most respondents regularly think in English is when they are together with their friends. The reason for this could be because the English language is often present in activities that friends enjoy together, such as watching TV, surfing the internet or listening to music. When outside home and school, some respondents occasionally think in English, but only a few. The group who tends to think in English the most outside home and school is the Nuuk respondents. This makes sense as they are also the group in which the largest number of respondents speak
100
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English with friends, and friends are perhaps often those one would communicate with the most outside home and school when one is a teenager. Although it is only a small group of respondents who use English regularly, we want to examine whether these respondents’ English proficiency differs significantly from that of respondents who do not regularly use English. A Pearson correlation between use of English in relation to English proficiency has been conducted. The ‘speak’ and ‘think’ variables have been converted into scores such that respondents score ‘1’ for each person they speak English with and ‘1’ for each situation in which they think in English. The respondents are thus able to achieve a score between null and four in the ‘speak’ measure and between null and five in the ‘think’ measure. Although we expected to find differences, the Pearson correlation shows no significance for any of the three groups.
Re sub-hypothesis E.2: English exposure We asked the respondents to indicate how often they are exposed to their various languages in their spare time through various activities. As we are only interested in the respondents’ exposure to English, we will only concern ourselves with their answers regarding this language. Although certain spare time activities may also reflect usage of English, such as using the internet and reading, these activities will be analysed as indicators of exposure in this section.
Films per week
Films in English
78,1 79,2 6,8
Sometimes
Never
I don't watch
93,2
Duration
Frequency
Often
15,6 17,7
6,3 2,1 0
10
13,1 62,7 46,953,1
1-5 hours 6-10 hours 8,5 3,1 10,4 3,1 5,2
11-15 hours More than 15 hours
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
10
20
25,4 37,5 33,3
30
40
50 60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 48: How often films watched are in English
101
Figure 49: Time spent watching films
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
As illustrated in Figure 48, L2 learners in Copenhagen watch films in English most frequently. L3 learners in Copenhagen and Nuuk watch films in English almost equally frequent but somewhat less than the L2 learners. Although the difference between the L3 learners in Copenhagen and Nuuk is small, L3 learners in Copenhagen are the respondents who watch films in English the least of the three respondent groups. When asked for how many hours per week they watch films in general, the majority of the respondents watch films 1-5 hours per week and 6-10 hours per week (see Figure 49). Although the numbers are similar for all groups, overall the Nuuk respondents appear to be the group that spends most hours per week watching films followed by the L2 learners and the L3 learners in Copenhagen. In addition to being the group who spends the fewest hours per week watching films, the L3 learners in Copenhagen also appear to be the group who watch the fewest films in English. L2 learners watch TV programmes in English most frequently followed by the L3 learners in Copenhagen (see Figure 50). Nuuk respondents appear to be the group that watches TV programmes in English least frequently.
TV programmes in English
56,3 20,3 15,6
Sometimes
Never
34,4
9,4 7,3 0
10
20
3,1 4,2
I don't watch
79,7 75
32,2 21,9
1-5 hours
Duration
Frequency
Often
TV programmes per week
53,1 35,6 40,6 27,1 20,3 9,4 21,9 10,2 6,3 5,2
6-10 hours 11-15 hours More than 15 hours
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
10
20
30
40
50 60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 50: How often TV programmes watched are in English
Figure 51: Time spent watching TV programmes
When asked for how many hours per week the respondents watch TV programmes in general, the majority watch TV programmes 1-5 hours per week or 6-10 hours per week (see Figure 51). Overall, L2 and L3 learners in Copenhagen appear to be the groups that spend most hours per week
102
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
watching TV programmes. Nuuk respondents seem to spend the fewest hours per week watching TV programmes and they also appear to watch TV programmes in English least frequently. The L2 learners seem to spend slightly fewer hours per week watching TV programmes than the L3 learners in Copenhagen, but almost 80% of the TV programmes the L2 learners watch are in English. Listening to music seems to be the most popular spare time activity for our respondents (see Figure 52). The L2 learners are the group who listens to music in English most; all L2 learners listen to music in English ‘often’ except for one L2 learner who listens to music ‘sometimes’. L3 learners in Copenhagen tend to listen to music in English slightly more than the Nuuk respondents.
Music per week
Music in English
1,7
Sometimes
Never
Duration
Frequency
I don't listen to
98,3 87,5 85,4
Often
9,4 13,5
3,1 0
10
3,1 15,3 25 19,8 13,6 12,5 31,3 22 15,625
1-5 hours 6-10 hours 11-15 hours More than 15 hours
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
47,5 39,6
25 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 52: How often music in English is listened to
Figure 53: Time spent listening to music
When asked how many hours per week they listen to music in general, the majority listen to music for over 15 hours per week (see Figure 53). Overall, the L2 learners spend most hours per week listening to music compared to the other groups and they also listen to music in English more often. Nuuk L3 learners appear to spend more hours per week listening to music in general than the Copenhagen L3 learners, but the two groups almost listen to music in English equally frequent. When asked how often the respondents employ English when using the internet, L2 learners employ English more frequently than the other two groups (see Figure 54). The L3 learners in Copenhagen
103
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
tend to employ English more frequently when on the internet than the Nuuk respondents. However, a tenth of the L3 learners in Copenhagen never employ English when using the internet.
Internet per week
Internet in English
37,3 37,5
Sometimes 1,7
Never 0
I don't use
61
50
34,4
57,3
12,5 7,3
10
20
4,2
1-5 hours
Duration
Frequency
Often
44,8 23,7 40,6 26 20,3 9,4 11,5 27,1 25 8,3
6-10 hours 11-15 hours More than 15 hours
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
27,1 25
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 54: How often the internet is used in English
Figure 55: Time spent on the internet
When asked how many hours per week they use the internet in general, the majority use the internet 1-5 hours per week and 6-10 hours per week (see Figure 55). Overall, L2 learners appear to spend most hours per week using the internet as almost 50% of the L2 learners use the internet between 11-15 hours per week and more than 15 hours per week. In addition to using the internet most frequently, the L2 learners also employ English when using the internet more often than the other two groups. Of the three groups, the Nuuk respondents spend the fewest hours per week using the internet. Reading is the least popular spare time activity for our respondents (see Figure 56). L3 learners in Copenhagen tend to read in English the most, followed by the L2 learners. Close to 30% of the Nuuk respondents never read in English, as opposed to approximately 20% of the L2 learners and 10% of the L3 learners in Copenhagen. When asked how many hours per week they spend reading, the majority read 1-5 hours per week (see Figure 57). Although the three groups spend an almost equal amount of time per week reading, the L3 learners in Copenhagen seem to spend slightly more hours per week reading than the other two groups. In addition, they also tend to read more in English.
104
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Re ad per week
Read in English
Duration
Frequency
66,1 75
Sometimes
61,5
Never
9,4 0
10
20,3
20
3,4 3,1 3,1
I don't read
13,6 12,5 8,3
Often
40
9,416,9 14,6 5,1 9,4 3,1
6-10 hours 11-15 hours More than 15 hours
28,1 30
74,6 78,1 76
1-5 hours
50
60
70
80
90 100
0
Percent
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Figure 56: How often respondents read in English
Figure 57: Time spent reading
Overall, the respondents often watch films and TV programmes and listen to music in English and use English somewhat less when on the internet and even less when reading. This distribution indicates a large passive use of English and a more moderate active use of English. The L2 learners employ English more often in every spare time activity than the L3 learners in Copenhagen and Nuuk except for reading. L3 learners in Copenhagen seem to read in English more often than the other groups. How much time each group spends on each activity varies. For instance, Nuuk respondents spend more hours per week watching films than the Copenhagen groups, but L3 learners in Copenhagen spend more hours per week watching TV programmes than L2 learners and Nuuk respondents. ANOVA tests of exposure to English in relation to overall test score demonstrate that exposure to English through certain spare time activities is related to certain respondent groups’ overall test score. As regards exposure to English through films, the ANOVA yields no significant results for any of the respondent groups. Regarding exposure to English through TV programmes, an ANOVA test demonstrates a highly significant result for Nuuk respondents only (F(2)=9.21, p<.001). The post hoc tests further demonstrate that the significant differences in means occur between those Nuuk respondents who answer that they watch TV programmes in English ‘often’ and those who answer ‘sometimes’. The
105
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
descriptives further show that respondents answering ‘often’ have a considerably higher test score mean ( x =32.19, N=54) than respondents answering ‘sometimes’ ( x =22.64, N=33). Concerning exposure to English through music, ANOVA tests reveal significant results for the L3 learners in Copenhagen only (F(2)=5.44, p<.05). Results indicate that there are differences between L3 learners in Copenhagen who are exposed to English through music and respondents who are not in relation to how well they perform on the English test, i.e. their English proficiency level. Post hoc tests could not be computed and descriptives do not show clear tendencies. As regards exposure to English through the internet, ANOVA tests reveal no significant result for Copenhagen respondents. In Nuuk, however, we find highly significant differences (F(2)=6.07, p<.01). Post hoc tests reveal that the differences are found between the group answering that they ‘often’ use the internet in English and the group answering ‘sometimes’, and between the group answering ‘often’ and the group answering ‘never’. The group who ‘often’ use the internet in English have a higher test score mean ( x =32.94, N=33) than the groups who use the internet in English ‘sometimes’ ( x =26.24, N=55) and ‘never’ ( x =20.29, N=7). Concerning exposure to English through reading, ANOVA tests reveal no significant results for L3 learners in either Nuuk or Copenhagen. However, there are significant differences for the L2 learners in relation to English proficiency (F(2)=3.78, p<.05). Post hoc tests show that the significant difference is found between the group who ‘often’ read in English and the group who ‘never’ reads in English. The group who ‘often’ read in English has a higher test score mean ( x =45.38, N=8) than the group who ‘never’ read in English ( x =35.83, N=12).
Conclusion for hypothesis E The results of our analyses in relation to hypothesis E vary. According to our findings, we can conclude that usage of English in general is not necessarily related to proficiency level of English. Regarding exposure, results also vary. Exposure to English through films does not appear to be significant in relation to level of English proficiency. For L3 learners in Nuuk, however, there are highly significant differences between L3 learners who are often exposed to English through TV programmes and L3 learners who are only exposed to English through TV programmes sometimes, the first group performing better on the English test. For the Copenhagen respondents, exposure to English through TV programmes does not yield significant differences. For the L3 learners in
106
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Copenhagen, exposure to English through music yield significant differences, although we cannot see between which groups these differences occur. For the Nuuk respondents, internet use in English appears to be related to level of English proficiency. Our results indicate that there are highly significant differences among Nuuk respondents in relation to how often they are exposed to English through the internet. The group who are exposed to English on the internet most often is also the group who performs best in the English test compared to the groups who are exposed to English sometimes and never. Reading in English only seems to affect the proficiency level of the L2 learners in Copenhagen. Results indicate that the group who reads in English often performs significantly better on the English test than those who never read in English. In conclusion, we have to reject the first part of hypothesis E concerning usage of English. Regarding exposure, we must conclude that the hypothesis can only be partly confirmed as exposure only yields significant results for some groups in relation to some spare time activities.
3.5.10 Additional findings While carrying out analyses in relation to our hypotheses, we have performed a number of additional tests out of curiosity. The additional tests that have proved significant relate to gender. The first variable we have tested in relation to gender is overall test score. Gender
Overall test score
As can be seen in Figure 58, Copenhagen L3 girls perform markedly better than Copenhagen L3 boys (difference: 6.1). For Copenhagen L2 learners, the opposite is true; in this group the boys perform better than the girls (difference: 3.34).
Overall test score mean
60 50
42,75
42,61 40
39,27
36,65 28,67
30
27,22
L2 Copenhagen (N=59) L3 Copenhagen (N=32) L3 Nuuk (N=96)
20 10 0 Boys
Girls
Figure 58: Overall test score mean by gender
107
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
For Nuuk respondents, boys and girls perform more or less similarly, although the boys achieve a slightly higher test score mean (difference: 1.45). Independent t-tests prove a significant difference between test score means of Copenhagen L3 boys and girls, showing that the girls perform significantly better than the boys (boys: x =36.65, N=20, SD=7.32; girls: x =42.75, N=12, SD=6.62; t(30)=-2.36, p<0.05). The second variable we have tested in relation to gender is how much respondents like English as school subject.
Gender
I like English as school subject
As shown in figures 59 and 60, girls in the L3 group like English as school subject slightly more than the boys, whereas L2 boys like English better than L2 girls.
Compared to my other subjects, I like English...
Compared to my other subjects, I like English... 23,1
The most
46,2
The same
19,2
0
10
20
30
20 75
The same
51,5
Less
25
The most
48,5
70
Less
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
5 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Percent
Percent
Figure 59: I like English as school subject by gender: Copenhagen L2 learners
Figure 60: I like English as school subject by gender: Copenhagen L3 learners
In Nuuk, the answers show that the boys like English more than the girls, as illustrated in Figure 61.
108
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
C ompare d to my othe r subje cts, I like English... 20
T he most
25,5 Girls (N=45)
55,6 62,7
T he same
Boys (N=51)
24,4
Less
9,8 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100
Pe rce nt
Figure 61: I like English as school subject by gender: Nuuk L3 learners
Gamma tests prove a strong correlation between gender and attitudes towards English as school subject for Copenhagen L2 learners (γ=0.56, N=56, p<0.05). Results indicate that L2 boys hold significantly more positive attitudes towards English as school subject than do L2 girls. The third variable we have analysed in relation to gender is English classroom anxiety.
Gender
Anxiety
As illustrated in figures 62 to 64, there is a tendency for boys in all three groups to feel more confident in the English classroom situation, as more boys answer that they ‘like speaking and answering questions’ than do the girls. For the second option not signalling anxiety, ‘I don’t mind speaking and answering questions in our English class’, more Copenhagen girls than boys choose this option while about the same percentage of girls and boys in Nuuk choose this option (girls: 35.6%, boys: 37.3%). Concerning the last three options that all indicate anxiousness in the English classroom situation, more girls than boys choose these options in all three groups. It should be noted that no Copenhagen L3 learners and no Nuuk boys have chosen the second option indicating anxiousness (‘I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English’).
109
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class
42,3 72,7
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class
46,2 30,3
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class
Girls (N=26) 53,8
Boys (N=33)
18,2
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English
38,5 9,1
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do
50 12,1
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent
Figure 62: English classroom anxiety by gender: Copenhagen L2 learners
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class
58,3 75
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class
58,3 20 Girls (N=12)
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class
25 20
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English
Boys (N=20)
0 0
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do
16,7 15
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent
Figure 63: English classroom anxiety by gender: Copenhagen L3 learners
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class
31,1 51
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class
35,6 37,3
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class
Girls (N=45)
42,2
Boys (N=51)
31,4
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English
20 0
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do
28,9 13,7
0
10 20
30 40
50
60 70
80 90 100
Percent
Figure 64: English classroom anxiety by gender: Nuuk L3 learners
110
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
χ2 tests prove that boys choose the first option ’I like speaking and answering…’ significantly more than girls in the Copenhagen L2 and Nuuk L3 groups (Copenhagen L2: χ2 (1, N=59)=5.58, p<.05; Nuuk: χ2 (1, N=96)=3.88, p<.05). Concerning the second option, ‘I don’t mind speaking and answering…’, significantly more Copenhagen L3 girls than boys choose this option (χ2 (1, N=32)=4.89, p<.05). For the first of the options indicating anxiousness, ‘I get nervous and confused…’, significantly more L2 girls than L2 boys choose this option (χ2 (1, N=59)=8.26, p<.01). The second anxiousness option, ‘I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me…’, is chosen significantly more often by L2 and Nuuk girls than L2 and Nuuk boys (L2: χ2 (1, N=59)=7.30, p<.01; Nuuk: χ2 (1, N=96)=11.26, p<.01). As regards the last option indicating anxiousness, ‘I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do’, significantly more L2 and Nuuk girls choose this option compared to boys in the same groups (L2 learners: χ2 (1, N=59)=10.17, p<.01; Nuuk: χ2 (1, N=96)=3.33, p<.05) To summarise the findings in relation to gender, we have found significant results in relation to English test score, attitudes towards English as school subject and anxiety in the English classroom situation. Although the differences do not prove significant for all groups, we find that the univariate analyses provide interesting insights into differences between boys and girls in the different groups. For this reason, the question of gender-based differences in the acquisition of English as third language will be included in the discussion.
111
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
4. Discussion ________________________________________________________________________________ According to current theory on language acquisition, language learning is a complex matter in which a multitude of factors are involved. The complexity increases with each additional language, making third language acquisition a highly complicated subject matter compared to first and second language acquisition. In the following, we will discuss the results of our investigation. One of our main interests and reasons for writing this thesis is the question of how L3 learners differ from L2 learners in their acquisition of English. There is no doubt that L2 and L3 learners differ in many respects as having two languages must necessarily be different from having one. Monolinguals and bilinguals encounter different cognitive challenges as they communicate by use of different resources. Their languages determine in which linguistic environments they are able to participate. One of these environments is the one available through knowing English, the international community.
4.1 Linguistic interdependence Although differences between L2 and L3 learners exist, it is not exactly clear how the two groups differ. This indeterminacy is indeed confirmed in the results of this investigation. An area in which we expected the groups to differ is linguistic interdependence. L2 learners only have one language that may influence their acquisition of English, namely Danish. L3 learners, on the other hand, have two languages that could potentially affect their acquisition of English, and their L1s vary. Following
Cummins’
interdependence
hypothesis
(1979),
we
expected
that
linguistic
interdependence would have an impact on our respondents’ acquisition of English. As suggested by Thomas (1988), formal instruction in one’s previously acquired languages appears to be a pertinent factor in the acquisition of additional languages. Thus, we expected to detect a relationship between the quantity of L1 education received and the respondents’ English proficiency. This relationship was not confirmed in our investigation. Although we believe that our respondents have filled in the questionnaire to the best of their ability, we cannot exclude the
112
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
possibility that their answers may not reflect the actual L1 education received. For instance, one Copenhagen L3 learner with Vietnamese as his or her L1 responded that he or she has received L1 education for ten years. While this is not impossible, it seems unlikely that the respondent has received education in Vietnamese for that amount of years. Some respondents noted the number of years they have known their L1, answering 15 or 16 years, rather than the number of years they have received formal instruction in it. These respondents have been registered as providing invalid responses as none of our respondents have received formal instruction since they were born. In the light of these facts, we have therefore been unable to obtain a clear picture of the quantity of L1 education they have in fact received and consequently how formal L1 instruction may affect L3 acquisition. If the question had been posed in a manner which could not be misunderstood, perhaps our results would have been more reliable. On the basis of this unreliability, we are unable to confirm or reject Thomas’s findings. While the quantity of L1 education does not prove significant in the acquisition of English according to our findings, the level of literacy skills in previously acquired languages do. It seems logical that literacy affects the acquisition of an additional language. If one is illiterate, how is one supposed to acquire a new language without having basic skills as reading and writing? No sensible person would disagree with the fact that one needs to learn how to read and write in order to extend one’s language abilities beyond oral communication. For L3 learners, the question of literacy skills concerns in which language these abilities should be taught – at least in the Danish context. In Nuuk, all respondents receive formal instruction in their three languages. In Denmark, the minority pupils who have an L1 different from Danish are not always as fortunate. Bilingual children are offered tuition in their mother tongue if they come from Greenland or the Faroe Islands or if their parents are EU or EEA citizens (Danish Ministry of Education, 2002b). Other bilingual children do not have a right to receive mother tongue education and it is therefore up to the respective municipality to decide whether the resident minority pupils should be given the opportunity to formally learn their L1. Only Danish and English are obligatory languages in the Danish Folkeskole. The focus is on the importance of learning Danish and English as these are the languages generally valued by society, i.e. they are highly prestigious languages in Denmark. Other languages – such as Kurdish, Arabic and Albanian – are considered of minor importance and thus given lower, if any, priority in the educational system. An individual’s minority language, however, may affect the acquisition of the languages society values, as L1 literacy skills may affect the
113
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
acquisition of additional languages. This affect was investigated in the study by Swain et al. (1990) who propose that heritage language literacy plays a vital role in L3 acquisition. In our investigation, we have examined the influence of L1 literacy skills for L2 learners and L1 and L2 literacy skills for L3 learners. Our results confirm that literacy skills indeed affect the respondents’ proficiency level in English. For the L2 learners, results show that the better they are at reading and writing in their L1, Danish, the higher their level of proficiency in their L2, English. For the L3 learners in Copenhagen, L1 reading skills prove significant, but the results are conflicting as the descriptives are unclear. For some of these pupils (N=9), there is a tendency towards a high level of L1 reading skills being related to a high level of English proficiency. This result confirms the findings by Swain et al. as some Copenhagen L3 learners’ heritage language literacy skills appear to affect their L3 proficiency. For some Copenhagen L3 learners (N=3), however, the opposite is true. For these pupils, there seems to be a tendency towards poor L1 reading skills being related to a high level of English proficiency. How do we explain these conflicting results? When looking at the L1s of the three pupils with poor L1 reading skills and high levels of English proficiency, we may find some answers. These three pupils have Vietnamese, Morroccan and Somali as L1s respectively, the languages being most distant from English besides Greenlandic. Our results could thus be related to typological matters. Instead of transferring reading skills from their L1s that are very distant from English, they perhaps use their L2, Danish, as source language instead. Although we cannot be sure whether or not this may hold true, we suggest that L1 reading skills may facilitate L3 proficiency if these skills are well-developed. On the other hand, poorly developed L1 reading skills may not interfere with the acquisition of English if the L1 is distant from English. However, we must keep in mind that this result only concerns three pupils. For all other L3 learners in Copenhagen, there is a clear and significant relationship between level of L1 reading skills and level of L3 proficiency suggesting that the better one masters one’s L1, the better one will master one’s L3. For the Nuuk learners, L1 literacy skills do not appear to affect L3 proficiency, but L2 literacy skills do. It does not seem surprising that the more proficient one is in one’s previously acquired languages, the more proficient one will become in one’s target language. However, the fact that our L3 learners’ acquisition of English seems to be affected by the L1 for the Copenhagen L3 learners and the L2 for the Nuuk L3 learners is surprising. How can we explain this difference between the two groups of L3 learners? Once more, an explanation could be that the results are related to typology in that respondents transfer elements from the language they perceive as more similar to
114
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English. This explanation could to some extent be confirmed by the Nuuk respondents as most of them have Danish as their L2, and it is the L2 reading skills that are significant for them in relation to English proficiency. Yet, the explanation does not apply to the L3 learners in Copenhagen as many of these respondents have L1s that are typologically more distant from English than their L2. Another possible explanation could be the specific linguistic system of bilinguals in the sense that bilinguals often have a weaker and a stronger language. For most L3 learners in Nuuk, we expect that the weaker language would be their L2 (Danish) as they receive less formal instruction in this language than in their L1 (Greenlandic). For most Copenhagen L3 learners, we expect that the weaker language is their L1 as they receive less formal instruction in this language than in their L2 (Danish). If this claim holds true, we can explain the different importance played by L1 and L2 reading skills as an expression of English proficiency being dependent on how well the respondents master their weaker language. They are all more or less able to read and write in the language(s) they are taught at school, but not all are able to read and write in their weaker language. The ones with well developed reading skills in the weaker language are also the ones with well developed English skills. This explanation ties in with linguistic interdependence in that pupils with good literacy skills in their previously acquired languages may be able to transfer some of these skills when learning an additional language. One could argue that as our results concerning literacy skills are based on the respondents’ selfreported language skills and behaviour, the results are unreliable. While we believe that observation and L1 and L2 testing might have produced different results, we would argue that our findings should not be dismissed. As there is a clear correlation between the respondents’ self-reported English literacy skills and their overall English test score, we believe that the respondents have accurate perceptions of their own English skills. We therefore find it reasonable to expect that their self-reported L1 and L2 skills also give a fairly accurate indication of their actual skills in these two languages. Moreover, the results are significant for all respondent groups, albeit literacy skills in different languages prove influential for various groups. Overall, we can establish that for all respondent groups L1 and L2 reading skills are pertinent to the acquisition of English. While literacy skills proved significant in our investigation, we were unable to establish a relationship between passive versus active use of L1 in relation to L3 proficiency as reported by Mägiste (1984). However, this result may be due to the way in which we have investigated the
115
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
matter. Instead of asking the respondents directly whether they use their L1 actively or passively, we have interpreted their answers to the questions concerning with whom they regularly speak their L1 and in which situations they think in their L1. We analysed the ‘speak’ variable as an indicator of active L1 use and the ‘think’ variable as an indicator of passive L1 use. Obviously, this procedure is problematic as the results do not indicate whether one has a latent knowledge of one’s L1. Had we been more careful in constructing the questionnaire the respondents were given, we could have asked them about this matter more appropriately. Perhaps another approach would have yielded other results. As a study by Normann Jørgensen (2002) indicates that code-switching may be positively related to L2 proficiency for minority pupils in Denmark, we decided to also examine code-switching in this investigation. We expected that the extent to which respondents code-switch may influence their level of English proficiency. The question, however, was phrased in general terms and we do therefore not know whether English specifically is involved in the code-switching behaviour reported by our respondents. In hindsight, we should naturally have asked the respondents to what extent their code-switching behaviour involves English. A rephrasing of the question could perhaps have indicated whether for instance extensive code-switching involving English would be related to higher levels of English proficiency. In the interviews, the Nuuk respondents confirm that they often mix their languages, but the role played by English in this process is unspecified. It would have been interesting to see the role code-switching involving English plays in the acquisition of English.
4.2 Typology and psychotypology Overall, linguistic interdependence does not seem to play a vital role in relation to L3 proficiency. Only literacy skills appear to be a pertinent factor in the acquisition of English. As suggested, this may be related to typological and psychotypological matters. Our results show that language distance, and thus typology, plays a vital role in relation to English proficiency for Nuuk respondents. Those with Greenlandic as their L1 perform considerably poorer in the test than those with Danish as L1. This is supported in both interviews: “… de grønlandske klasser de har lidt mere problemer med at lære engelsk” (Interview I), “… dem der kun kan snakke grønlandsk, de har sværere ved at lære engelsk” (Interview II). However, language distance did not prove significant in relation to English proficiency in Copenhagen. We believe that this may be related to problems with
116
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
the language distance measure rather than the actual effect of typological distance in the acquisition of English. Some problems of the measure were put forward in 2.2, the main point of critique being that additional languages have been added to the measure based on the judgment of a single linguist rather than being based on actual data. In support of our reservations concerning the language distance measure, the linguists we have been in contact with regarding the assignment of language scores for Greenlandic, Albanian and Somali have all expressed doubts regarding one or more language scores in the language distance measure. Hartmut Haberland, Associate Professor of German, Roskilde University, has provided an in-depth critique of Chiswick & Miller’s language distance measure 9 in which, apart from the abovementioned issues, he points out that the argumentation of the article is problematic. Haberland finds that the article lacks a discussion of the extent to which different language aspects, such as alphabet versus phonology, are considered in the assignment of language scores as well as a discussion of the fact that other factors than linguistic distance may play a role in the difficulty experienced with learning certain languages, i.e. cultural differences. In agreement with Haberland’s view, we find the language distance measure problematic in its present form. We do, however, find the method of measuring specific language groups’ experienced difficulty with learning new languages an interesting way of establishing language distance measures, and further believe that such a measure could indeed be useful. As shown in our univariate analyses of the respondents’ psychotypology, only approximately 20 per cent of the respondents show correspondence between their psychotypology and the typological distance between their languages. Given the critique of the language distance measure above, based on which correspondence was judged, one could of course argue that this number does not necessarily reflect the actual correspondence between the respondents’ perception of similarities and differences between their languages and the ‘actual’ similarities and differences. Nevertheless, we believe that the results indicate that respondents overall are not particularly aware of the similarities and differences between their languages. In support of this, more than 20 per cent of the Copenhagen and Nuuk L3 learners have replied that they simply do not know which of their languages are more similar. This is further supported in the interviews in which pupils claim that their languages are not similar: “Jeg synes faktisk de tre forskellige sprog de er sådan, de er sådan hver for sig” (Interview II). When taking time to consider the matter further, however, they come to
9
Personal e-mail communication.
117
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
think of similarities after all: “Dansk og engelsk kan godt ligne hinanden en lille smule… på nogle områder, men… men grønlandsk og engelsk det hænger slet ikke sammen” (Interview II). As our results indicate that L3 learners showing correspondence between their psychotypology and the typological distance between their L1 and English have a higher level of English proficiency, we expect that learners of additional languages in general may benefit from being made aware of similarities and differences between their languages. Through awareness of language typology, the language learner should achieve correspondence between his or her psychotypology and the typological distance between his or her languages, which again should be related to better target language proficiency. We therefore propose that language typology and discussions of the typological similarities and differences of the individual learners’ languages be included in the curriculum for second and foreign language teaching in school.
4.3 Metalinguistic knowledge The only overall hypothesis that was fully confirmed in this investigation is hypothesis C, which concerns metalinguistic knowledge in relation to English proficiency. Our results suggest that there is a strong relationship between all respondent groups’ metalinguistic knowledge and their level of English proficiency. It seems logical that knowledge about general linguistic principles would influence language acquisition positively regardless of whether the target language is a respondent’s L2 or L3. However, one could argue that the more languages one has acquired, the greater one’s metalinguistic knowledge ought to be. This notion was not confirmed in our investigation as Copenhagen L2 learners outperformed Copenhagen L3 learners in the tasks assessing metalinguistic knowledge. Bialystok’s differentiation between the analysis component and control component might be useful in explaining these results. As other researchers, she too claims that bilinguals often outperform monolinguals in tasks involving metalinguistic awareness. However, she stresses that the nature of the metalinguistic tasks and the extent to which the two processing components of analysis and control are involved in these tasks are crucial in the assessment of metalinguistic awareness. A consistent finding in research assessing metalinguistic awareness is that bilingual children outperform their monolingual peers in tasks that require high levels of control. On the other hand, there is no consistent bilingual advantage in tasks for which the solutions rely primarily on high levels of analysis. As she argues that the analysis component is the component mainly employed in metalinguistic knowledge, it makes sense that Copenhagen L2 and L3 learners in our investigation
118
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
do not differ much in their levels of metalinguistic knowledge. Bialystok further claims that metalinguistic knowledge in itself only provides weak evidence for the kinds of skills and processes that are included in metalinguistic ability and metalinguistic awareness. Therefore, we cannot claim that the respondents’ level of metalinguistic knowledge necessarily reflects their level of metalinguistic awareness. Had we included tasks measuring metalinguistic abilities and awareness, we might have obtained different results. However, in this sense we feel that the literature on the subject of metalinguistic awareness in general provide few guidelines as to how one would be able to assess levels of metalinguistic awareness in an investigation such as ours. While it is commendable that Bialystok goes further into defining metalinguistic knowledge, abilities and awareness as well as processing components, it is problematic that her descriptions are based on young bilingual children only. She argues, for instance, that counting words in a sentence is a task that requires high levels of control and analysis for young children. We would expect that the respondents in our investigation would find this task rather easy. Her other examples of tasks requiring high levels of analysis and control are also based on young children, making it difficult to apply her theory to our target groups. We therefore recommend that the age-aspect be included in future theoretical frameworks concerning acquisition of additional languages. Moreover, there appears to be a lack of theories specifically concerning metalinguistic awareness in relation to L3 acquisition. In general, L3 theorists provide no further explanations of the operations involved in metalinguistic awareness. They simply state that metalinguistic awareness is an important aspect of L3 learning and may facilitate the acquisition of an additional language. If Bialystok’s theoretical framework were to be combined with third language acquisition theory and research in relation to the age-factor, results of studies on metalinguistic awareness would perhaps yield more significant findings in future research. Although the impact of metalinguistic awareness has not been investigated in this thesis, our results concerning metalinguistic knowledge are important. The results suggest that knowledge of general linguistic principles is influential when acquiring additional languages. We hope that this finding will have implications for future instruction and schooling in both Greenland and Denmark, although this may be too much to expect. However, if we want to improve language education in general and English education in particular in the Danish and Greenlandic school systems, more education needs to be devoted to enhancing pupils’ metalinguistic knowledge as an enhanced level of metalinguistic knowledge appears to result in improved target language proficiency.
119
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
4.4 Motivation While some factors in language acquisition depend on the nature, knowledge and interdependence of the involved languages, other factors can be considered to be more dependent on individual characteristics. One such factor is motivation. Motivation er også, altså hvis du ikke har motivation, så kan du ikke rigtig… så hænger det ikke sammen agtig, fordi… altså du skal jo også yde en indsats, det er ikke kun læreren der skal… (Interview II)
As expressed in the above quotation, motivation does play a role in the acquisition of English, although it may be difficult to pin out the exact impact of this factor and how to measure it. Our measurement and analyses of the construct of motivation also proved to be the most complex part of our analyses, particularly the analyses of attitudes. While the assumption that effort exerted in the language learning process is positively related to proficiency proved true in our investigation, it is interesting that the investigation by Denmark’s Evaluation Institute (EVA, 2002) proved the opposite. This could perhaps be explained by the fact that for many adolescents spending time on homework is perhaps not considered ‘cool’ compared to other spare time activities, such as listening to music, playing computer games etc., through which, incidentally, pupils may be exposed to and learn English. Therefore, some pupils may under-report their study habits, or simply learn more English through their spare time activities. As our and EVA’s investigation concern the same group in Denmark, year nine pupils, one would expect similar findings. However, the investigation by EVA does not distinguish between L2 and L3 learners. As our results were significant for L3 learners in Copenhagen and not for L2 learners, the difference found between these two groups may simply reflect that study habits and/or the reporting of these differ between L2 and L3 learners. The analyses of the affective aspect of motivation, attitudes, was analysed with regard to the influence of parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes as well as regarding respondent attitudes in relation to level of English proficiency. The parents’ view of the importance of English learning for their children appears to have a minor influence on respondents’ attitudes towards English. This corresponds with the fact that parental attitudes were not mentioned in our interviews. Nevertheless, it may be that a more thorough questioning regarding parental attitudes towards English would have yielded more clear results, as we did after all find a strong correlation between parental attitudes and the respondents’ attitudes towards English as school subject for Copenhagen
120
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
L3 learners. This finding could be taken to reflect that parental attitudes influence the Copenhagen L3 respondents to a greater degree than do parental attitudes for the other groups. Concerning the respondents’ attitudes towards English, including preference for English and attitudes towards the language, the school subject and the English classroom situation, this factor proved to be related to level of English proficiency. In contrast, attitudes towards language learning in general do not appear to be related to English proficiency. This finding makes sense as English is a language that holds a special status through being the main lingua franca and being very popular amongst adolescents, i.e. in relation to films, music, sub-cultures etc. Attitudes towards the learning of any given language can therefore not be expected to be related to attitudes towards the learning of English specifically. Our findings show that the degree to which respondents find English easy or difficult is related to their English proficiency, such that the easier they find English, the better their test score. This finding is perhaps not surprising, as one could compare this measure to the self-reported English skills, which may also be taken to indicate how easy or difficult they find the language. As skills proved clearly related to English proficiency, it is natural that the easy-difficult measure is also related to level of proficiency. Whether respondents have an integrative or an instrumental orientation towards learning English did not prove significant in our analyses. This corresponds to Baker’s (1992) conclusion that the degree of the relationship between orientation and proficiency is relatively small. However, as described in 2.4, the integrative orientation is expected to result in better target language proficiency over time. Therefore, a follow-up of our respondents’ orientation and English proficiency in, say, five to ten years might prove quite different results. First of all, the supposed positive effect of the integrative orientation may have positively influenced the continued English acquisition for learners having this motivational orientation. Secondly, the instrumental value is likely to have changed for some English learners due to changes in their use and need of English, e.g. through not having English at school, having gained a good job, needing English for undertaking further studies etc. While Bialystok & Hakuta (1994) conclude that motivation and attitudes only have a modest effect on the acquisition of additional languages, we believe the effect to be more than simply modest
121
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
based on our findings. As mentioned, it is perhaps the difficulty of properly defining and measuring the construct of motivation that produces modest results rather than the actual effect of motivation being modest.
4.5 Usage of and exposure to English We expected that usage of and exposure to English would have a great impact on the respondents’ level of English proficiency. As the results of our investigation indicate, usage of English is not necessarily a pertinent factor in acquiring English, and the role played by exposure to English is somewhat unclear. In relation to usage of English, our results are perhaps a reflection of our way of examining this matter. We realise that it can be considered problematic that we assess usage of English through the respondents’ active use of the language and correlate this with their receptive English skills. Had we instead assessed the respondents’ level of oral English proficiency in this investigation, the amount of English regularly spoken might have played a greater role in relation to level of English proficiency. On the other hand, the respondents rarely use English on a regular basis outside the formal language learning context, suggesting that a different investigation might not yield different results after all. As for the role played by exposure to English, our results are rather unclear. Results indicate that exposure to English through some spare time activities yield significant results for some respondent groups. A reason for our inconclusive findings may be that all respondents generally are quite exposed to English in their spare time. Thus, results only reveal significant differences between respondents in the few instances where respondents within the three groups differ in their amount of exposure to a greater extent. It should be noted that our investigation shows that L2 learners and L3 learners generally do not differ in their amount of exposure to English outside the formal language learning context. In a recent newspaper article, senior lecturer and M Ed. Poul Otto Mortensen states that bilinguals 10 are less exposed to English than their monolingual peers before they begin formal English
10
Poul Otto Mortensen uses the term ‘ethnic children’ concerning bilinguals, which we find highly inappropriate as all children are in effect ethnic. His use of the term ‘ethnic’ is consistent with a recent trend in the public debate in Denmark concerning persons of non-Western decent. The term appears to be shorthand for the somewhat more correct expression: persons of ‘other ethnic origin’. As a so-called expert, we believe he should be more careful in his choice of words.
122
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
instruction. The reason for this, he explains, is that the parents of bilingual children do not focus on English as opposed to monolingual children’s parents: Det handler grundlæggende om, at parabolen vender i en helt anden retning hos etniske unges forældre end hos andre børns forældre. Mange etniske børn kan ikke engang identificere engelsk, når de starter med sproget. Samtidig skal de lære et fremmedsprog via et andet fremmedsprog, det er svært. (Urban, 2005)
Mortensen’s concern about bilingual children not even being able to identify English when they begin their formal instruction in English at school may be well-founded. However, the educational system cannot presuppose that pupils have prior knowledge of English before they begin their formal education. As Holmen explains in an interview in Weekendavisen (2005), English teachers who presuppose that children have been exposed to English outside school before they begin their formal English education in fact discriminate between pupils. Holmen also points to the psychological factors involved in foreign language learning as she stresses the importance of pupils not feeling anxious in the classroom. If English becomes a school subject that most pupils already have some knowledge of before beginning their formal education, the few who have no prior knowledge will be too unsure of themselves to participate in class. Prior exposure to English gives pupils a feeling of success and “[n]othing succeeds like success” (Holmen quoted in Weekendavisen, 2005). Although lack of exposure to English in the first years of schooling may have been problematic for some pupils, this difference in amount of exposure to English does not seem to continue throughout the respondents’ schooling. As mentioned, our findings do not reveal differences in amount of exposure to English among the respondent groups as the respondents seem to be more or less equally exposed to English through their various spare time activities. Nuuk interview respondents confirm that they learn much of their English through TV and they even suggest that for them it may be just as easy to learn English without having Danish as a language due to this massive exposure (Interview II).
4.6 Gender-based differences As an additional result, we found that there were gender-based differences in our respondent groups. The most remarkable finding is that Copenhagen L3 learner girls perform best of all on the
123
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English test, despite the fact that the Copenhagen L2 learner group overall outperforms the Copenhagen L3 learner group. The fact that the Copenhagen L3 girls clearly outperform the Copenhagen L3 boys is in correspondence with the conclusion in a report from the Danish Institute of Social Research, which states that ethnic minority females perform better than ethnic minority males in the educational system (Dahl & Jakobsen, 2005). It thus appears that a special effort in ensuring the English skills of L3 learner boys in Copenhagen is warranted.
4.7 The importance of ensuring good English skills Issues of English teaching have become more important and relevant in Denmark and Greenland concurrently with the development of English as the lingua franca of today’s globalised world. It is highly likely that these issues will become more pertinent in the future for pupils in both countries; not least for pupils in the Danish educational system who need to acquire the necessary skills to accommodate the Danish labour market. The labour market values good English skills more than ever before. As regards Greenlandic pupils, good English skills are equally important if they wish to receive higher education and to enhance job opportunities in Denmark and internationally. Thus, while good English skills may perhaps not be necessary to get by in the local Greenlandic context, these skills become increasingly important for Greenland forming part of not only the Danish Kingdom, but the international community. Although Denmark and Greenland have come a long way since foreign language learning was only for the privileged few, there is still a long way to go. The need for good English skills is paramount if Denmark wishes to uphold its position in the world community. By the same token, good English skills are equally important in Greenland if Greenland wishes to direct attention towards the international community, or even to Denmark. If young Danes and Greenlanders seek to assert themselves in a globalised society, they are in need of better English skills. If both Denmark and Greenland wish to come to the fore internationally, the countries need to equip their citizens with communication skills that will suffice in international communication. It is no longer enough to simply be able to get by in English. The international community demands more. If Danish and Greenlandic companies wish to play a prominent role in global competition, they need employees who are able to attend to the companies’ international interests.
124
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
4.8 Ensuring appropriate English skills for L3 learners in Denmark and Greenland For L3 learners, L1 and L2 status may have an impact on the acquisition of English as a third language. In Greenland, the respondents’ three languages, Greenlandic, Danish and English are generally valued by society. In Denmark, some languages hold a low status in society while others are considered prestigious. Low status languages are languages such as Turkish and Somali spoken by minorities and the users of these low status languages are very much aware that their mother tongues are of little value to society: “Dette budskab om sprogenes værdi går klingende klart igennem til vores sproglige mindretal [italics in original]” (Normann Jørgensen, 1993: 28). Thus, this is the state of affairs that many of our Copenhagen L3 learners are faced with. The low priority of minority languages in Denmark has many implications for the users of these languages, affecting both their perception of their mother tongue, but also their perception of the majority language Danish: Bilingualism also carries a psychosocial dimension that can itself profoundly affect children. The language we speak is instrumental in forming our identity, and being required to speak a language that is not completely natural may interfere with the child’s construction of self. Children who are bilingual because of relocation, particularly unwanted relocation, may resent the new community language they have learned in spite of their proficiency with it. (Bialystok, 2001: 5)
Rather than focusing on the, according to research, positive aspects of bilingualism, the debate in Denmark has lead to a stigmatisation of bilinguals, particularly those with low status L1s. What should be an asset for them, being bilingual, is considered an obstacle to what is claimed to be the only way to successful integration, namely fluent Danish. Therefore, it is significant to discuss whether or not Danish pupils and minority pupils in the Danish Folkeskole are granted equal opportunities for acquiring English skills – skills that may determine their future on the labour market and make the difference between obtaining the ideal job or not. In this respect, perhaps Denmark could learn a thing or two from Greenland. In Greenland, and Nuuk in particular, bilingualism appears to be considered useful, and society conveys the importance of bilingualism by having Danish and Greenlandic as compulsory school subjects. It is of course not possible that the various languages of Copenhagen L3 learners all be compulsory subjects in the Danish Folkeskole. Rather, we suggest that policy makers in Denmark reconsider the termination of the compulsory provision of mother tongue education. As L1 proficiency appears to facilitate the acquisition of English, it is necessary that linguistic minority pupils acquire L1 literacy skills through formal instruction if they are to achieve the English skills required and expected. Viewing bilingualism as
125
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
useful and helpful at the individual and societal level may enhance the acquisition of English as a third language which, in turn, will ultimately benefit society.
126
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
5. Conclusion ________________________________________________________________________________ The main purpose of this thesis was to establish factors pertinent to the acquisition of English as a third language in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Nuuk, Greenland. In order to investigate this matter, data have been obtained through a questionnaire and an English test, both prepared for the present purpose. The respondents included in the investigation were 91 year nine pupils from three schools in Copenhagen and 96 year ten pupils from three schools in Nuuk (year nine in the Danish school system corresponds to year ten in the Greenlandic school system). Of the 91 pupils in Copenhagen, 59 were in the process of learning English as their L2 whereas 32 were in the process of learning English as their L3. Respondents learning English as a second language have been included in Copenhagen in order to make a comparison between second and third language learners possible. In Nuuk, all pupils were learning English as their L3, but they have received two years less of English instruction than their Copenhagen peers. While this factor has made it inappropriate to compare the groups’ overall English proficiency, their replies in the questionnaires have been compared. As we are less familiar with the Nuuk setting, two focus group interviews were conducted in order to unfold possible additional factors relevant to the acquisition of English for our target group in Greenland. In our thesis, we have presented some of the similarities and differences between the sociolinguistic contexts of Copenhagen and Nuuk as regards the acquisition of and exposure to English. The main similarities concern two of the involved languages, Danish and English, and the school system. English is a foreign language for third language learners in both contexts and Danish is widely used in and outside school. The main difference between the two contexts is that Nuuk is a bilingual society, whereas Copenhagen is a monolingual society. Furthermore, the third language learners in Copenhagen have a wide range of different mother tongues, while the mother tongue for Nuuk respondents is either Greenlandic or Danish. Our theoretical framework suggests that linguistic interdependence is an important factor in third language acquisition. A learner’s language skills and proficiency in previously acquired languages may influence the acquisition of an additional language. Typological distance between the language
127
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
learner’s languages and the distance perceived by the language learner (psychotypology) may also prove influential. The language learner’s metalinguistic knowledge of general linguistic principles is another factor that is considered vital in language acquisition. In addition, motivation and attitudes toward the target language and exposure to and usage of the target language are also influential factors when learning an additional language. Based on our theoretical framework, five hypotheses have been proposed. The data obtained in the empirical investigation have been analysed statistically guided by these hypotheses. Subsequently, the presented findings have been discussed. English proficiency of L3 learners compared to L2 learners has not been widely researched in Denmark, and the available research suggests that L3 learners perform considerably poorer than their L2 learner peers. In our investigation, L2 learners do outperform L3 learners although not by much. As there were no L2 learners amongst our Nuuk respondents, a comparison between L2 and L3 learners cannot be made for Nuuk respondents. However, results show that Nuuk respondents with Danish as their L1 outperform respondents with Greenlandic as their L1. This difference can be ascribed to typological distance, as dealt with in our second hypothesis (see below). Our first hypothesis states that the interdependence of a language learner’s various languages may influence the acquisition of English. We have investigated the impact of quantity of L1 education, active versus passive use of L1, level of L1 and L2 literacy skills and extent of code-switching. Our results indicate that the quantity of L1 education and active versus passive use of L1 are not influential factors when acquiring English. Literacy skills, on the other hand, appear to influence the level of English proficiency to some extent for all respondents while code-switching is only shown to be related to level of English proficiency for the Nuuk respondents. Overall, the hypothesis was partly confirmed. Our second hypothesis only includes third language learners and suggests that the typological distance between a language learner’s various languages may influence the acquisition of a third language. The typologically closer one’s L1 is to the target language, the easier the acquisition process ought to be. Also, the more typologically close the involved languages are perceived to be, the easier the acquisition process ought to be. Our results indicate that typological distance between the L1 and English plays a role for the Nuuk respondents in relation to English proficiency. The
128
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
typologically closer their L1 is to English, the better they perform on the English test. Also, those Nuuk respondents who show correspondence between their psychotypology and the typological distance between their L1 and English have a higher level of English proficiency than those who do not. The hypothesis was confirmed for Nuuk respondents. The third hypothesis states that the more developed the respondents’ metalinguistic knowledge is, the higher their level of English proficiency will be. Our results reveal that there is a significant relationship between metalinguistic knowledge and level of English proficiency for all respondent groups. The hypothesis was confirmed. The fourth hypothesis concerns motivation and attitudes towards language learning in general and towards English in particular. The hypothesis included effort (motivational intensity), affect (attitudes towards learning English) and orientation (the goal of learning English, determined as being integrative or instrumental). Results indicate that effort has an impact on the acquisition of English for all respondent groups. Affect as an expression of respondents’ attitudes towards English also seems related to level of English proficiency, whereas affect as an expression of attitudes towards language learning in general is insignificant. Orientation was not found to be influential, but as suggested, orientation may prove influential in the long term. Our hypothesis was partly confirmed. The fifth and final hypothesis states that usage of and exposure to English outside the formal language learning context will affect the respondents’ level of English proficiency. Results indicate that usage of English generally has little or no affect on respondents’ target language achievement. However, exposure to English through various spare time activities is shown to be positively related to English proficiency for all respondent groups, albeit not through all activities. Our hypothesis concerning usage of English was rejected and our hypothesis concerning exposure to English was partly confirmed. Finally, additional findings have been included. These findings suggest that differences in the acquisition of English between gender-based groupings exist. In Copenhagen, results show that while the girls learning English as L3 perform significantly better on the English test than do the boys learning English as L3, the boys learning English as L2 perform better than the girls learning
129
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English as L2. Moreover, the girls learning English as L3 have the highest level of English proficiency, although the L2 learners overall outperform the L3 learners. In Nuuk, there is no considerable difference between the performance of boys and girls. Additional findings also indicate that boys in all groups tend to feel more confident in the English classroom situation than do girls. The girls feel considerably more anxious than the boys amongst Copenhagen L2 and Nuuk L3 respondents, while there is only a slight difference between Copenhagen L3 girls and boys. In conclusion, pertinent factors to the successful acquisition of English as a third language are to some extent found in all hypotheses as different factors prove relevant for different groups. The factors that are influential for all L3 learners are literacy skills in previously acquired languages, metalinguistic knowledge, motivation and exposure to English outside the formal language learning context (these factors also proved influential for L2 learners). Although typology and psychotypology only proved to be positively related to English proficiency for Nuuk L3 learners, we propose that these factors are indeed highly influential in the acquisition of additional languages. The reason that this did not prove significant for Copenhagen L3 learners, we believe, is due to problems with the applied language distance measure as well as the general difficulties of determining language distance. We believe that our results merit further research into the aspects of the role of literacy skills of previously acquired languages as well as that of metalinguistic knowledge. Also, we propose that further research on metalinguistic awareness is carried out. Although scholars agree that metalinguistic awareness is highly influential in third language acquisition, this concept is scarcely investigated. We believe that further studies in the abovementioned areas will shed light on the complexities of third language acquisition in general and the specificity of the L3 learners’ experiences. Our reason for suggesting research focusing on these particular aspects – L1 and L2 literacy skills and metalinguistic knowledge and awareness – is that these aspects of third language acquisition of English can be strengthened through the school curriculum. While heightening literacy skills and metalinguistic awareness and knowledge is surely beneficial for all pupils, regarding all their languages, an effort concerning these aspects may help ensure that L3 learners benefit from their previous language learning experiences.
130
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
6. Resumé (Summary in Danish) 11 ________________________________________________________________________________ Dette speciale omhandler faktorer, der påvirker indlæring af engelsk som tredje sprog. Ifølge teori om flersprogstilegnelse er tosprogede bedre end etsprogede til at lære nye sprog, da de har opbygget en erfaring med at lære sprog og kan drage paralleller mellem deres sprog. Det lader imidlertid til, at tosprogede i Danmark ikke får udnyttet denne fordel i forhold til indlæring af engelsk, da de ifølge eksisterende undersøgelser klarer sig dårligere i engelsk end deres etsprogede klassekammerater. Det er denne modsætning mellem teori og virkelighed, der har inspireret dette speciale. Vi har undersøgt vores problemfelt gennem en empirisk undersøgelse bestående af et spørgeskema samt en engelsk prøve, begge lavet til formålet. Undersøgelsen gennemførtes i februar og marts 2006 i både København og Nuuk. Byerne blev valgt på baggrund af et ønske om at sammenligne tosprogedes indlæring af engelsk i to forskellige kontekster: en monolingval kontekst (København) og en bilingval kontekst (Nuuk). Målgrupperne er 9. klasseselever i København og 10. klasseselever i Nuuk (dansk 9. klasse svarer til grønlandsk 10. klasse). I København deltog 91 elever, hvoraf 32 er tosprogede og 59 etsprogede. I Nuuk deltog 96 elever, alle tosprogede med dansk og grønlandsk som sprog, heraf 11 med dansk som modersmål og 85 med grønlandsk som modersmål. Mens tosprogede i København har en bred vifte af forskellige modersmål, har tosprogede i Nuuk enten grønlandsk eller dansk som modersmål. Lighederne for tosprogede elever i de to byer er, at de alle har dansk som deres første eller andet sprog samt, at de er ved at lære engelsk som tredje sprog. I København har vi desuden inddraget etsprogede elever for at kunne sammenligne, hvorledes tredjesprogstilegnelse adskiller sig fra andetsprogstilegnelse af engelsk. Målgruppen i Nuuk har ikke modtaget det samme antal års undervisning i engelsk som målgruppen i København, hvorfor de
to
gruppers
engelskfærdigheder
ikke
kan
sammenlignes.
Til
gengæld
kan
spørgeskemabesvarelser sammenlignes. I gennemgangen af relevant teori i forhold til undersøgelsen fremkommer fem overordnede temaer: indbyrdes afhængighed mellem sprog (interdependence), sprogtypologi og psykotypologi (den
11
Resuméets længde, 2 normalsider, er et kompromis mellem de to fags regler for specialeformalia. Kompromiset er nået efter aftale mellem studielederne Ebbe Klitgård (Engelsk) og Bjarne Jacobsen (Psykologi).
131
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
enkeltes opfattelse af forskelle og ligheder mellem personens sprog), metasproglig viden, motivation samt brug af og påvirkning fra engelsk. Disse temaer munder ud i fem hypoteser, som vores empiri analyseres ud fra. I forhold til indbyrdes afhængighed mellem et individs sprog undersøger vi indvirkningen fra mængden af evt. modtaget modersmålsundervisning, aktiv versus passiv brug af L1, L1 og L2 læseog skrivefærdigheder samt brugen af kodeskift i forhold til engelskfærdigheder. Angående sprogtypologi undersøger vi betydningen af afstanden mellem de tosprogede respondenters L1 og engelsk i forhold til deres engelskfærdigheder. Vi undersøger desuden, hvorvidt deres opfattelse af denne afstand, deres psykotypologi, stemmer overens med den typologiske afstand. I afprøvningen af hypotesen omkring metasproglig viden undersøger vi, hvorvidt der er en sammenhæng mellem respondenternes metasproglige viden og deres engelskfærdigheder. Undersøgelsen af motivation involverer indsatsen (mængden af lektielæsning), holdninger til engelsk samt målet med at lære engelsk. Angående brug af og påvirkning fra engelsk undersøges indvirkningen af brugen af engelsk i forskellige sammenhænge samt påvirkning fra engelsk gennem forskellige fritidsaktiviteter i forhold til respondenternes engelskfærdigheder. Specialets overordnede konklusion er, at de faktorer, der i vores undersøgelse viser sig at påvirke indlæring af engelsk som tredje sprog, er L1 og L2 læse- og skrivefærdigheder, metasproglig viden, motivation samt engelskpåvirkning i fritiden (disse faktorer viste sig også at være relevante i forhold til indlæring af engelsk som andet sprog). Vi mener desuden, at typologi samt psykotypologi spiller en vigtig rolle i flersprogstilegnelse, selv om disse faktorer kun viste signifikante resultater for Nuuk respondenter. Årsagen til, at typologi og psykotypologi ikke viste signifikante resultater for tosprogede i København, kan meget vel være problemer med det anvendte mål for sproglig afstand samt generelle problemer med at afgøre sproglige afstande. På baggrund af vores resultater foreslår vi, at fremtidig forskning i flersprogstilegnelse bl.a. fokuserer på L1 og L2 læse- og skrivefærdigheder samt metasproglig viden. Desuden mener vi, at der bør forskes mere i metasproglig bevidsthed – et begreb, der tillægges stor betydning i forhold til tredjesprogstilegnelse, men som endnu ikke er undersøgt grundigt. L1 og L2 læse- og skrivefærdigheder samt metasproglig viden og bevidsthed kan styrkes gennem skolen. Fokus på disse sproglige faktorer kan gavne alle elever i forhold til deres sprog, og ydermere kan et fokus på disse emner hjælpe tosprogede elever med at få gavn af deres tidligere erfaringer med at lære sprog i forhold til indlæringen af engelsk som tredje sprog.
132
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
7. Bibliography ________________________________________________________________________________ Alabau et. al. 2002 The Assessment of Pupils' Skills in English in Eight European Countries. G.Bonnet (ed): The European Network of Policy Makers for the Evaluation of Education Systems Baker, C. 1992
Attitudes and Language. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Bialystok, E. 1991 "Metalinguistic dimensions of bilingual proficiency" in E.Bialystok (ed) Language processing in bilingual children (113-140). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Bialystok, E. 2001 Bilingualism in Development: Language, Literacy & Cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bialystok, E. & Hakuta, K. 1994 In other words: the science and psychology of second-language acquisition. New York: BasicBooks, HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Bouvy, C. 2000
"Towards the Construction of a Theory of Cross-linguistic Transfer" in J.Cenoz & U.Jessner (eds) English in Europe: The Acquisition of a Third Language (143-156). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Brick-Hansen, A. 2002 "Aspekter af engelsk" in Holm-Larsen (ed) Fremmedsprog i den danske skole. København: Dansk Skolemuseum.
Bro, H. 1993
Grønland: Kilder til en dansk kolonihistorie. København: Det grønlandske selskab.
133
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Cenoz, J. 2000
Cenoz, J. 2001
Cenoz, J. 2003
"Research on Multilingual Acquisition" English in Europe: The Acquisition of a Third Language. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
"The Effect of Linguistic Distance, L2 Status and Age on Cross-linguistic Influence in Third Language Acquisition" in J.Cenoz, B.Hufeisen & U.Jessner (eds) Crosslinguistic Influence in Third Language Acquisition - Psychological Perspectives. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
"The Influence of Age on the Acquisition of English: General Proficiency, Attitudes and Code Mixing" in M.d.P.G.Mayo & M.L.G.Lecumberri (eds) Age and the Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language (77-93). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Cenoz, J. & Jessner, U. 2000 "Introduction" in J.Cenoz & U.Jessner (eds) English in Europe: The Acquisition of a Third Language. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Chiswick, B.R. & Miller, P.W. 2005 "Linguistic Distance: A Quantitative Measure of the Distance Between English and Other Languages" in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 26 (1): 1-11.
Corder, S.P. 1982 "Language distance and the magnitude of the language learning task" in Corder, S.P. Error Analysis and Interlanguage (95-102). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cummins, J. 1979 "Linguistic Interdependence and the Educational Development of Bilingual Children" in Review of Educational Research 49 (2): 222-251. Dahl, K.M. & Jakobsen, V. 2005 Køn, etnicitet og barrierer for integration: Fokus på uddannelse, arbejde og foreningsliv. København: Socialforskningsinstituttet.
134
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Danish Ministry of Education 2000 Regulation no. 730: the Folkeskole (Consolidation) Act, July 21st. www.uvm.dk (accessed in March 2006).
Danish Ministry of Education 2002a "The Folkeskole", Fact sheet, www.uvm.dk (accessed in March 2006).
Danish Ministry of Education 2002b "Rights and duties in the Danish Comprehensive Primary and Lower Secondary Schools". www.uvm.dk (accessed in August 2006).
Dewaele, J.M. 2001 "Activation or Inhibition? The Interaction of L1, L2 and L3 on the Language Mode Continuum" in J.Cenoz, B.Hufeisen & U.Jessner (eds) Cross-linguistic Influence in Third Language Acquisition - Psychological Perspectives Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
EVA (Denmark’s Evaluation Institute) 2003 "Engelsk i grundskolen: mål og resultater". www.eva.dk (accessed in March 2006)
Gad, U.P. 2004
Dansksprogede grønlænderes plads i et Grønland under grønlandisering og modernisering: Den grønlandske sprogdebat som identitetspolitisk forhandling. Thesis, University of Copenhagen.
Gardner, R.C. 1985 Social Psychology and Second Language Learning: The Role of Attitudes and Motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
Gardner, R.C. & Lambert, W.E. 1972 Attitudes and Motivation in Second-Language Learning. Rowley, Massachusetts: Newbury House Publishers.
Gordon, R.G.Jr.ed. 2005 Languages of the World. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
135
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Greenland Home Rule. 1979 Regulation no. 6: the Folkeskole, October 16th . www.nanoq.gl (accessed in March 2006). Greenland Home Rule. 1988 Regulation no. 3: Changes in the Home Rule Act concerning the Fokeskole, April 28th . www.nanoq.gl (accessed in March 2006).
Greenland Home Rule. 1997 Regulation no. 1: the Folkeskole, June 6th . www.nanoq.gl (accessed in March 2006). Grosjean, F. 1982 Life with Two Languages: An Introduction to Bilingualism. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Herdina, P. & Jessner, U. 2002 A Dynamic Model of Multilingualism. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Hofmann, C. 2000 "The Spread of English and the Growth of Multilingualism with English in Europe" in J.Cenoz & U.Jessner (eds) English in Europe - The Acquisition of a Third Language (1-21). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Holmen, A. 2006 "Tosprogede elevers engelskkundskaber" in Sprogforum 36: 35-40. Howell, D.C. 1999 Fundamental Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. Pacific Grove: Duxbury Press.
Jensen, J.E. 1977 "Folkeskolen i Grønland" in Tidsskriftet Grønland 1. Jessner, U. 2006
Linguistic Awareness in Multilinguals: English as a Third Language. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
136
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Kellerman, E. 1983 "Now you see it, now you don't" in Gass & Selinker (eds) Language Transfer in Language Learning. Rowley: Newbury House Publishers.
Kellerman, E. 1987 Aspects of Transferability in Second Language Acquisition. University of Nijmegen.
Krashen, S.D. 1981 Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning. Oxford: Pergamon Press Ltd.
Lee, H. 2004
"A Survey of Language Ability, Language Use and Language Attitudes of Young Aborigines in Taiwan" in C.Hofmann & J.Ytsma (eds) Trilingualism in Family, School and Community. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Mägiste, E. 1984 "Learning a Third Language" in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 5 (5): 415-421. Neuman, W.L. 2003 Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Boston: Pearson Education.
Normann Jørgensen, J. 1993 "Mødet med de andre sprog" in K.Risager, A.Holmen & A.Trosborg (eds) Sproglig mangfoldighed: Om sproglig viden og bevidsthed (22-29). Roskilde: Foreningen for anvendt sprogvidenskab i Danmark. Normann Jørgensen, J. 2002 "Studier af flersprogethed hos unge" in J.N.Jørgensen (ed) De unges sprog - Artikler om sproglig adfærd, sproglige holdninger og flersprogethed hos unge i Danmark (935). København: Akademisk Forlag.
Peal, E. & Lambert, W.E. 1962 "The Relation of Bilingualism to Intelligence" in Psychological Monographs: General and Applied 76 (27): 1-23.
137
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Preisler, B. 1999 Danskerne og det engelske sprog. Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitetsforlag.
Preisler, B. 2003 "English in Danish and the Danes' English" in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 159: 109-126.
Ringbom, H. 1987 The Role of the First Language in Foreign Language Learning. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Ringbom, H. 2001 "Lexical Transfer in L3 production" in J.Cenoz, B.Hufeisen & U.Jessner (eds) Crosslinguistic Influence in Third Language Acquisition - Psychological Perspectives. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd. Schönpflug, U. 2000 "Word-fragment Completions in the Second and Third Language: A Contribution to the Organisation of the Trilingual Speaker's Lexicon" in J.Cenoz & U.Jessner (eds) English in Europe - The Acquisition of a Third Language (121-142).
Seeberg, P. 1995 Tosprogede elever i gymnasiet og HF. Undervisningsministeriet.
Skillswise 2006
www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/ (accessed in February 2006).
Skovgaard-Petersen, V. 2002 "Da fremmedsprog blev skolefag" in Holm-Larsen (ed) Fremmedsprog i den danske skole. København: Dansk Skolemuseum.
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. 1988 "Multilingualism and the education of minority children" in T.Skutnabb-Kangas & J.Cummins (eds) Minority Education: From Shame to Struggle (9-44). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
138
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Statistics Denmark 2006 statistikbanken.dk (accessed in April 2006). Statistics Greenland 2006 statgreen.gl (accessed in April 2006). Swain, M., Lapkin, S., Rowen, N. & Hart, D. 1990 "The Role of Mother Tongue Literacy in Third Language Learning" in Language, Culture and Curriculum 3 (1): 65-81. Teaching English. 2006 www.teachingenglish.org.uk (accessed in February 2006). Thomas, J. 1988
Thomas, J. 1992
"The Role Played by Metalinguistic Awareness in Second and Third Language Learning" in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 9 (3): 235-246.
"Metalinguistic Awareness in Second- and Third-language Learning" in R.J.Harris (ed) Cognitive Processing in Bilinguals (531-545). Amsterdam: North-Holland, Elsevier Science Publishers.
Trudgill, P. 1974 Sociolinguistics: An Introduction. Oxford: Penguin Books Ltd. Urban 2005
"DF: Etniske elever skyld i dårligt engelsk", Newspaper article featured in Urban on December 13th.
Weekendavisen 2005 "Det kan man da bare", Newspaper article featured in Weekendavisen on June 10th.
139
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
8. Appendices ________________________________________________________________________________
Appendix A: Questionnaire (DK version) Appendix B: Questionnaire (GL version) Appendix C: English test (including sources and correct answers) Appendix D: English test (DK version) Appendix E: English test (GL version) Appendix F: Interview I (in Danish) Appendix G: Interview II (in Danish) Appendix H: Statistical output
140
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
LANGUAGE QUESTIONNAIRE Your answers will be treated anonymously. You may ask for help at any time. If there is something you don't understand, please ask for help!
Background information How old are you?
years old
Are you
a boy
or
a girl?
In which country were you born?
What is your citizenship (statsborgerskab)?
How many years have you lived in Denmark?
years
Have you gone to school in another country? - If yes: Where?
yes
no
In what school years/grades?
You may tick more than one box
How do you feel? Danish
African
French
European
Greenlandic
British
Turkish
Swedish
American
Pakistani
Other:
What is your mother and father's highest level of education? mother
father basic education (for example 'Folkeskolen') high school/college (for example 'gymnasiet', 'HF') vocational training (for example hairdresser, electrician) higher vocational training (for example nurse, school teacher) university (for example high school teacher, doctor)
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Language information Please list the languages you speak: your first language (mother tongue) your second language your third language (if you have one)
*
Your first, second and third language will be referred to several times
*
How many years have you received education (fået undervisning) in your first language?
What is your mother's first language?
What is your father's first language?
Please note the languages you regularly SPEAK with the following people: persons
languages
your mother your father your brother(s)/sister(s) your friends
Please note the languages you mainly THINK IN in the following situations: situations
languages
at home with friends at school outside home and school (shops, sports etc.) when counting/doing maths
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Your language skills Your first language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Your second language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Your third language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Similarity If you have more than two languages, please indicate which of your languages you think are most alike: my first and second language my first and third language my second and third language my languages are not similar I don’t know
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Your language preferences
Please list your languages in order of preference. In each box, start with the language you like the most. For instance, the language you prefer speaking may not be the language that you prefer listening to.
I prefer speaking
1. 2.
y
I prefer writing
3.
1.
"
I prefer reading
2. 3.
1. 2.
I prefer listening to
3.
1. 2.
2
3.
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Switching between languages
People who speak more than one language sometimes 'mix' languages in the same conversation.
Sometimes, a person may use a word, several words or a whole sentence from another language.
This is called switching and often happens.
In which situations do you switch between your languages? (You may tick more than one box)
at school at home outside home and school (shops, sports etc.) in other places:
With whom do you switch between your languages? (You may tick more than one box)
your mother your father your brother(s)/sister(s) your friends your teacher(s) with other people:
I don't switch between my languages.
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Language in your spare time
When you watch films (on TV, video, DVD or at the cinema), how often are they in: your first language
your second language
your third language
often
often
often
sometimes
sometimes
sometimes
never
never
never
How many hours do you approximately spend watching films per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't watch films.
When you watch TV programmes, how often are they in: your first language
your second language
often sometimes never
often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend watching TV per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't watch TV programmes.
When you listen to music, how often is it in: your first language often sometimes never
your second language often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend listening to music per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't listen to music.
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When you use the internet, how often is it in: your first language
your second language
often sometimes never
your third language
often sometimes never
often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend on the internet per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't use the internet.
When you read (books, magazines, newspapers etc.) how often are they in: your first language often sometimes never
your second language often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend reading per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't read.
About learning languages Do you like learning new languages?
yes no I don't know
Do you think it is important to know other languages?
yes no I don't know
If you visit another country, would you like to be able to speak the language of that country?
yes no I don't know
If you planned to stay in another country, would you try to learn the language of that country?
yes no I don't know
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
About learning English
Tick one box
I think that learning English can be important to me… because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people. because it will improve my education. because I think it will someday be useful in getting a good job. because it will enable me to better understand English-speaking people and cultures. I don't think it is important to learn English.
Tick one box
Compared to my other subjects, I like English… the most. the same as all the others. less than all the others.
Tick one box
Compared to the others in my class, I think I… study more than most of them. study about as much as the others. study less than the others.
You may tick more than one box
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class. I don’t mind speaking and answering questions in our English class. I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class. I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English. I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do.
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
About the English language We would like to know what you think about the English language. We have made an example with French, to show you what we would like you to do:
EXAMPLE: French French is a language that is… very
rather
neither
rather
X
Clumsy Fast
very
X
Slow X
Gentle
Elegant Harsh
The example shows that French is a language that is: very elegant, rather fast and neither gentle nor harsh.
Now it is your turn to show what you think about the English language. There are no right or wrong answers.
English English is a language that is…
Easy
Difficult
Rough
Smooth
Precise
Loose
Clumsy
Elegant
Fast
Slow
Cold
Intimate
Gentle
Harsh
Useless
Useful
Educated Unpopular
Uneducated Popular
9
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
At home
Does anybody at home help you with your homework (in any subjects)? Yes, often. Yes, sometimes. No.
Do you want or need help with your homework (in any subjects)? Yes, often. Yes, sometimes. No.
How important do your parents think it is that you learn English? Very important. As important as other subjects. Not important. I don't know.
Comments If you have any comments, please note them here:
Thank you for your time
☺
10
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
LANGUAGE QUESTIONNAIRE Your answers will be treated anonymously. You may ask for help at any time. If there is something you don't understand, please ask for help!
Background information How old are you?
years old
Are you
a boy
or
a girl?
In which country were you born?
What is your citizenship (statsborgerskab/sumiuussuseq)?
How many years have you lived in Greenland?
years
Have you gone to school in another country? - If yes: Where?
yes
no
In what school years/grades?
You may tick more than one box
How do you feel? Greenlandic
African
French
European
Danish
British
Turkish
Swedish
American
Pakistani
Other:
What is your mother and father's highest level of education? mother
father basic education (for example 'Folkeskolen') high school/college (for example 'gymnasiet', 'HF') vocational training (for example hairdresser, electrician) higher vocational training (for example nurse, school teacher) university (for example high school teacher, doctor)
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Language information Please list the languages you speak: your first language (mother tongue) your second language your third language (if you have one)
*
Your first, second and third language will be referred to several times
*
How many years have you received education (fået undervisning/ilinniartitaaneq) in your first language?
What is your mother's first language?
What is your father's first language?
Please note the languages you regularly SPEAK with the following people: persons
languages
your mother your father your brother(s)/sister(s) your friends
Please note the languages you mainly THINK IN in the following situations: situations
languages
at home with friends at school outside home and school (shops, sports etc.) when counting/doing maths
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Your language skills Your first language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Your second language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Your third language How good are you at: speaking
writing
reading
understanding
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
okay
okay
okay
okay
bad
bad
bad
bad
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
Similarity If you have more than two languages, please indicate which of your languages you think are most alike: my first and second language my first and third language my second and third language my languages are not similar I don’t know
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Your language preferences
Please list your languages in order of preference. In each box, start with the language you like the most. For instance, the language you prefer speaking may not be the language that you prefer listening to.
I prefer speaking
1. 2.
y
I prefer writing
3.
1.
"
I prefer reading
2. 3.
1. 2.
I prefer listening to
3.
1. 2.
2
3.
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Switching between languages
People who speak more than one language sometimes 'mix' languages in the same conversation.
Sometimes, a person may use a word, several words or a whole sentence from another language.
This is called switching and often happens.
In which situations do you switch between your languages? (You may tick more than one box)
at school at home outside home and school (shops, sports etc.) in other places:
With whom do you switch between your languages? (You may tick more than one box)
your mother your father your brother(s)/sister(s) your friends your teacher(s) with other people:
I don't switch between my languages.
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Language in your spare time
When you watch films (on TV, video, DVD or at the cinema), how often are they in: your first language
your second language
your third language
often
often
often
sometimes
sometimes
sometimes
never
never
never
How many hours do you approximately spend watching films per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't watch films.
When you watch TV programmes, how often are they in: your first language
your second language
often sometimes never
often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend watching TV per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't watch TV programmes.
When you listen to music, how often is it in: your first language often sometimes never
your second language often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend listening to music per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't listen to music.
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When you use the internet, how often is it in: your first language
your second language
often sometimes never
your third language
often sometimes never
often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend on the internet per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't use the internet.
When you read (books, magazines, newspapers etc.) how often are they in: your first language often sometimes never
your second language often sometimes never
your third language often sometimes never
How many hours do you approximately spend reading per week? 1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-15 hours
more than 15 hours
I don't read.
About learning languages Do you like learning new languages?
yes no I don't know
Do you think it is important to know other languages?
yes no I don't know
If you visit another country, would you like to be able to speak the language of that country?
yes no I don't know
If you planned to stay in another country, would you try to learn the language of that country?
yes no I don't know
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
About learning English
Tick one box
I think that learning English can be important to me… because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people. because it will improve my education. because I think it will someday be useful in getting a good job. because it will enable me to better understand English-speaking people and cultures. I don't think it is important to learn English.
Tick one box
Compared to my other subjects, I like English… the most. the same as all the others. less than all the others.
Tick one box
Compared to the others in my class, I think I… study more than most of them. study about as much as the others. study less than the others.
You may tick more than one box
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class. I don’t mind speaking and answering questions in our English class. I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class. I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English. I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do.
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
About the English language We would like to know what you think about the English language. We have made an example with French, to show you what we would like you to do:
EXAMPLE: French French is a language that is… very
rather
neither
rather
X
Clumsy Fast
very
X
Slow X
Gentle
Elegant Harsh
The example shows that French is a language that is: very elegant, rather fast and neither gentle nor harsh.
Now it is your turn to show what you think about the English language. There are no right or wrong answers.
English English is a language that is…
Easy
Difficult
Rough
Smooth
Precise
Loose
Clumsy
Elegant
Fast
Slow
Cold
Intimate
Gentle
Harsh
Useless
Useful
Educated Unpopular
Uneducated Popular
9
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
At home
Does anybody at home help you with your homework (in any subjects)? Yes, often. Yes, sometimes. No.
Do you want or need help with your homework (in any subjects)? Yes, often. Yes, sometimes. No.
How important do your parents think it is that you learn English? Very important. As important as other subjects. Not important. I don't know.
Comments If you have any comments, please note them here:
Thank you for your time
☺
10
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English Test
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Scanning
1.
Does the catalogue company offer a home delivery service?
Yes. It costs £100.00.
Yes. Delivery is free.
There is no delivery service offered. ; Yes, but the cost of the service is unknown.
2.
How much does the 3 seater sofa cost? ; £409.95
£359.95
£232.99
£479.95
3.
For what type of use is the Karina range designed / made?
heavy domestic use ; general domestic use
light domestic use
commercial use
4.
How high is most of the Karina range?
94cm
95cm ; 96cm
97cm
5.
How many pieces of furniture cost more than £350?
1
2
3 ;4
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Reading, Scanning, Quiz, level A
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Skimming 1.
This text is about: ; library resources
opening hours
fines and other fees
membership conditions
2.
Which category of video isn't listed?
educational
exercise
film ; travel
3.
This text tells you where to get more information about how many items you can borrow from the library.
Yes, it gives you a phone number where you can get more information.
Yes, it says that this information is available online. ; Yes, it tells you to go to the enquiry desk in the library.
No, this information isn't included.
4.
What types of fictional books are listed? ; romantic, horror, science-fiction and adventure
historical novels
sporting adventures
Spanish fiction
5.
Which month is 'library month'?
November
August
September ; April
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Reading, Skimming, Quiz, level A
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar: Making sentences 1.
All sentences must begin with a capital letter. ; True
False
Don’t know
2.
You can end a sentence by using a comma.
True ; False
Don’t know
3.
All sentences need to have a verb (doing word) in them. ; True
False
Don’t know
4.
All sentences must have a subject in them - a person or thing that is doing the action of the verb. ; True
False Glossary
Don’t know
Sentence: oqaaseqatigiit Capital letter: naqinneq angisooq Full-stop: naggat Verb: oqaluut Subject: susoq
Glossary Sentence: sætning Capital letter: stort bogstav Full-stop: punktum Verb: udsagnsled Subject: grundled
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Making sentences, Quiz, level A
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar: Verbs and subjects 1. A sentence must have a subject and a verb. ; True
False
Don’t know 2.
A singular subject is just one thing or one person. ; True
False
Don’t know
Glossary Sentence: oqaaseqatigiit Subject: susoq Verb: oqaluut Singular: ataasersiut Plural: qassersiut
Glossary Sentence: sætning Subject: grundled Verb: udsagnsled Singular: ental Plural: flertal
3.
A plural subject must have a plural verb form. ; True
False
Don’t know
4.
What is the verb in this sentence? 'He drives slowly towards the entrance of the building.'
entrance ; drives
Don’t know
5.
What is the subject in this sentence? 'The bouquet of flowers was delivered to you yesterday.' ; bouquet of flowers
you
Don’t know
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Verb-subject agreement, Quiz, level A
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar: The right tense 1. This sentence describes an action in the present. 'He is watching television.' ; True
False
Don’t know 2. This sentence describes an action in the past. 'The bus is late again.'
True ; False
Don’t know 3. This sentence describes an action in the future. 'I bumped into an old friend yesterday.'
True ; False
Don’t know 4. This verb is in the present tense. 'He is sleeping.' ; True
False
Don’t know 5. This verb is in the future tense. 'I will write.' ; True
False
Don’t know
Glossary Sentence: sætning Present (tense): nutid Past: datid Future (tense): fremtid Verb: udsagnsord
Glossary Sentence: oqaaseqatigiit Present (tense): maannakkut pisoq Past: qanga pisoq Future (tense): qaqugo pisussaq Verb: oqaluut
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Getting the right tense, Quiz, level A
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Understanding words 1.
If something is 'tallish' it is quite tall but not very tall. Which of the adjectives below does not follow the same pattern?
He's youngish, about your age. ; He's so selfish. I really don't like him very much.
He's darkish, not as fair as I am anyway.
He's got greenish eyes.
2.
Which word describes the way things look and not the way things feel?
prickly
rough
coarse ; shiny
3.
Which word has the opposite meaning of ‘very important’.
essential
vital ; trivial
crucial
4.
Which word does not fit?
‘big bang’ ; penicillin
planets
solar system
5.
Glossary Adjective: tillægsord
If someone grills you, they… ; ask you lots of difficult questions
tell you lots of jokes and funny stories
tell you all their problems
make you sit in the sun until you burn
Glossary Adjective: pissusilerissut
Source: www.teachingenglish.org.uk (February 2006); Downloads, Quizzes, Vocabulary 1-3: “Assorted upper-intermediate 3”, 4-5: “Assorted upper-intermediate 4”
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
6.
Which of the following expressions does not fit?
sit down
take the weight off your feet ; stand up
put your feet up
7.
Which of the following words does not fit? ; sip
chew
gobble
eat
Glossary Expression: oqariartaaseq
8.
The following words have the word ‘speed’. Which one is not correct? ; speed food
speed bump Glossary Expression: udtryk
speed reading
speed limit
9.
How can you describe someone who smokes a lot? ; a heavy smoker
a dark smoker
a strong smoker
a brown smoker
10. Which of the following do you ‘do’ and not ‘make’?
a decision
a fuss ; someone a favour
a mistake
Source: www.teachingenglish.org.uk (February 2006) 6-7: “Odd one out”, 8-10: “Collocation 1”
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar exercise: Find the right verb
Please circle
the right verb form in each of these sentences.
1.
The office next door was/were closed all day yesterday.
2.
The print on the labels is/are small.
3.
The carpet has/have so many stains on it.
4.
The Trade Union members’ meeting is/are downstairs in the Conference room.
5.
Two cars and a coach was/were involved in the motorway accident.
6.
His application form for the new job, which was/were posted yesterday, has/have gone missing.
7.
My neighbour play/plays his music so loud that the walls almost vibrate/vibrates.
8.
The bouquet of flowers has/have just arrived. Glossary Verb: udsagnsled Sentence: sætning
Glossary Verb: oqaluut Sentence: oqaaseqatigiit
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Verb-subject agreement, Worksheet 1
9
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar exercise: Personal pronouns Use personal pronouns to finish these messages.
Personal pronouns: I
you
he
she
me
you
him
it
her
her
we it
us
they them
1.
Amy phoned. Please phone it is very important.
2.
Jane and I are going shopping. Would you like to come with us ?
3.
Harry has been unwell. Please give him two spoonfuls of medicine at lunchtime.
4.
I have left the boxes on the floor. Please put the cupboard.
5.
Your friends phoned to say that
Glossary Personal pronouns: kinaassusersiut
back at 2 o’clock.
they
them
She
says
away in
will meet you at the pub.
Glossary Personal pronouns: personlige stedord
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Personal pronouns, Worksheet 1
10
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar exercise: Find the right tense 1.
Which sentence is correct?
Last year I go to India. ; Last year I went to India.
Last year I am going to India.
Last year I will go to India.
2.
Which sentence is correct?
I usually getting the bus to work.
I usually gets the bus to work.
I am usually getting the bus to work. ; I usually get the bus to work.
3.
Which sentence is correct? ; Next week I am going to the cinema.
Next week I will going to the cinema.
Next week I is going to the cinema.
Next week I went to the cinema.
4.
Which sentence is correct?
I play tennis last week. ; I played tennis last week.
I will play tennis last week.
I am playing tennis last week.
5.
Which sentence is correct?
They will arrived late.
They are arrived late.
They will arriving late. ; They will arrive late.
Glossary Sentence: sætning
Glossary Sentence: oqaaseqatigiit
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Getting the right tense, Quiz, 1-3: level B, 4-5: level C
11
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Find the right word 1.
Her hair is long and… ; curly
happy
slim
late
2.
Today, the weather’s going to be…
hopeful ; warm
blue
urgent
3.
The food at this supermarket is always…
gentle
hopeful
empty ; fresh
4.
Her new husband is very…
high ; smart
urgent
relaxing
5.
I had a brilliant holiday. It was really… ; relaxing
loving
low
straight
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise (February 2006) Words, Grammar, Describing people, places and things, Quiz, level A
12
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
You have now finished the test. Well done!
How did you find this English test?
very easy easy neither easy nor difficult difficult very difficult
Thank you for your help.
13
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! "
#!
$
% &&' $'&&' "$" && %(&&' $
) !
%
#!
*
&% &' &, &( '
#! " $ %
*
+
$'
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
-
"
.
/
0 -
$
-
!
!
! !
1 2 %
0
/ 3
4 '
/
0 2 5 4 5
0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
5
! ) 6
!
6
!
" )
$
5
7
!
8
) 6 %
!
5
9
3
) 6
! 4 .: ; . ) 3 . < . 4 9 .
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
A sentence must have a subject and a verb. ) 6 2.
!
A singular subject is just one thing or one person. ) 6
3.
!
A plural subject must have a plural verb form. ) 6
4.
What is the verb in this sentence? 'He drives slowly towards the entrance of the building.' drives 6
5.
!
4 .: 4 9 . < . 4 . = .
!
What is the subject in this sentence? 'The bouquet of flowers was delivered to you yesterday.' bouquet of flowers you 6 !
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
0#
!
0
) 6
!
" 0
0 ) 6
!
$ 0
0 ) 6
!
% 0#
0
) 6
!
' 0 ! !
0
) 6
!
4 = = ) <
.: 7
8 .
. 7 .
8 .
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
9 # # # #
0 !
1
0 0 0 0
/
!
0 !
"
/
!
$
/
!
%
/
! >
0
!
!
>
6
6 59
'
? 1 9
.
:
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
,
/
!
-
! !
(
/
!
! A-
!
@
&
!
!
!
#!
>
6 /
!
! /
!
>
6
>
6
.
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
!
$
"
"
-
%
#
"
#
$
#
%
"
B
6
#
!
; '
,
!
#
#
!9 #
(
!
#
"
C
# "
@
!
1
!
#" !
#
" 9
< 4
. .:
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
$ %
$ &
5
"
E DDDDD
$
#
=
DDDDD
" 6
DDDDD
/
!
%
=
!
DDDDD !
-
=
'
DDDDD!
=
.
DDDDD !
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! / F F F F
"
! 4
!
/ ! ! ! !
$
/ 2 2 2 2
%
-
! ! ! !
! !
/ ! ! !
!
!
'
/ ! ! !
.:
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! #
?
"
!
6
?
!
$
%
!
#
!
?
?
'
! !
?
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! /
#!
G
A
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! "
#!
$
% &&' $'&&' "$" && %(&&' $
) !
%
#!
*
&% &' &, &( '
#! " $ %
*
+
$'
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
-
"
.
/
0 -
$
-
!
!
! !
1 2 %
0
/ 3
4 '
/
0 2 5 4 5
0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
5
! ) 6
!
6
!
" )
$
5
7
!
8
) 6 %
!
5
9
3
) 6
!
4 . 1 1 ; . 1 ) 3 . < . 1 4 9 . 1
4 .: ; . ) 3 . < . 4 9 .
1
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
A sentence must have a subject and a verb. ) 6 2.
!
4 . 1 4 9 . 1 < . 1 4 . = .1
A singular subject is just one thing or one person. ) 6
3.
!
A plural subject must have a plural verb form. ) 6
4.
!
What is the verb in this sentence? 'He drives slowly towards the entrance of the building.' drives 6
5.
4 .: 4 9 . < . 4 . = .
!
What is the subject in this sentence? 'The bouquet of flowers was delivered to you yesterday.' bouquet of flowers you 6 !
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
0#
!
0
) 6
!
" 0
0 ) 6
!
$ 0
0 ) 6
!
% 0#
0
4 = = ) <
) 6
!
.: 7
8 .
. 7
8 .
.
' 0 ! !
0
) 6
!
4 = = ) <
. 1 7 .1 7 . 1
1 8 . 1 8 .1 1
1 1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
9 # # # #
0 !
1
0 0 0 0
/
!
0 !
"
/
!
$
/
!
%
/
! >
0
!
!
>
6
6
59
'
.
? 1 9 59
.
:
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
,
/
!
-
! !
(
/
!
!
!
@
A-
!
!
!
>
. 1
6 /
A-
&
#!
!
! /
!
>
6
1
>
6
.
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
!
$
"
"
-
%
#
"
#
$
#
%
"
B
6
#
!
; '
,
!
#
#
!9 #
(
!
#
"
C
# "
@
!
1
!
#" !
#
" 9
< 4
< 4
.
. 1 . 1
.:
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
$ %
$ &
5
"
E DDDDD
$
#
=
" 6
DDDDD
/
!
%
-
'
=
DDDDD
=
!
DDDDD !
=
DDDDD !
DDDDD!
.
=
.
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! / F F F F
"
!
4
!
/
4
! ! ! !
$
/ 2 2 2 2
%
-
! ! ! !
! !
/ ! ! !
!
!
'
.:
/ ! ! !
. 1
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! #
?
"
!
6
?
!
$
%
!
#
!
?
?
'
! !
?
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
! /
#!
G
A
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
Interview I ________________________________________________________________________________ []
til overlap i tale
()
til uforståelig tale
_______
til når taler selv understreger noget
NEJ
til høje udbrud
[latter]
til øvrige mundtlige udtryk
….
Til kortere pauser
[pause]
til længere pauser
A: B: C: D: I: Interviewer(e) For at sikre informanternes anonymitet er deres navne ikke angivet. Desuden er navne, der nævnes af informanterne, blevet ændret.
I: Den her undersøgelse vi er i gang med handler som sagt om engelsk som tredje sprog, og vi er i gang med også at lave den i København hvor vi blandt andet tager ud på skoler med tosprogede børn for at finde ud af hvordan de har det med at have engelsk som tredje sprog, og det kan I også se ud fra spørgeskemaet. Så det vi gerne vil vide er i virkeligheden lidt om jeres oplevelser af at have tre sprog og især om hvorvidt det at have to sprog gør det lettere at lære engelsk som tredje sprog eller om I synes det er sværere eller er der nogen fordele, nogen ulemper, eller hvordan og hvorledes. I kan starte med at fortælle hvilke sprog I har, hvad jeres første, andet og tredje sprog er. A: Mit det er grønlandsk, så er det dansk, og så det engelsk. B: Jeg har det samme.
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
C: Jeg har dansk, grønlandsk og engelsk. D: Jeg har dansk, grønlandsk og engelsk. I: Tror I det ville være nemmere eller sværere at lære engelsk, hvis I kun havde ét sprog? C: Det tror jeg ikke – altså de to sprog vi har, altså grønlandsk og dansk, det tror jeg ikke gør engelsk nemmere alligevel [I: Okay] Så det kan være det samme om vi har ét eller to. I: Så det kommer an på hvilken et sprog det er? C: Det tror jeg. B: Det ville være sværere hvis vi kun havde grønlandsk og ikke noget dansk, på grund af det er de danske bøger der forbinder os med det engelske. Der er jo ikke nogen grønlandske engelske illustrerede, nogle engelske illustrerede bøger til grønlandsk. D: Det ville da være værre, hvis det var (…) I: Så det handler om bøger også, altså materialer? B: Materialer, ja. De er mest dansk, når det kommer til engelsk. D: Men det er også meget film og musik og sådan noget, stort set alt det vi ser og hører det er på engelsk, så. Måske havde det nok ikke været så svært alligevel. B: Det er også det. I: Men for jer der har grønlandsk som modersmål, tror I det ville være nemmere hvis I lærte engelsk igennem grønlandsk? Altså nu lærer I jo engelsk gennem dansk, ikke? A: Ja.
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Så I lærer faktisk engelsk gennem jeres andet sprog og ikke jeres første sprog. A: For mig ville det måske være lidt sværere fordi, det som jeg har lært øhm, engelsk på, det har været sådan mere igennem fjernsynet og så også med mine søskende. Mine søskende de snakker kun dansk, de kan ikke grønlandsk. Det er kun mig og min lillesøster der snakker grønlandsk sådan rigtigt af os søskende, så… Det har mere været sådan, mine søskende der snakker dansk, der har fortalt mig hvad det er det betyder, når de siger det og sådan noget der. Så det har været sådan lidt fjernsyn og søskende. I: Men det man tit siger, i København i hvert fald, det er at de undervisningsmaterialer der er til de tosprogede børn, at det netop foregår på dansk, og derfor kan det være meget svært for dem at forholde sig til engelsk, fordi at man altid oversætter igennem dansk. Hvis jeg nu for eksempel havde tyrkisk som modersmål og mit andet sprog var dansk, og jeg måske ikke var så god til dansk, og så skulle lære mit tredje sprog igennem det sprog jeg faktisk ikke er særlig god til, det kan være et problem for rigtig mange. Og det var bare derfor jeg spurgte om det måske ville have været lettere, tror I, hvis I havde lært engelsk gennem grønlandsk, hvis det er jeres modersmål. A: Jo, det… Ja. Jo for mig ville det måske være ret nemt. B: Det er også fordi her for nogle år siden så gik jeg i en grønlandsksproget klasse [I: Okay] men jeg var nødt til at rykke op til en dansk på grund af at det gik ikke med grønlandsk, altså vores skole den var næsten konkurs, så jeg kom over til en dansksproget klasse. Jeg havde lidt svært ved at følge med i starten, da jeg kom herhen på grund af… jeg lagde mærke til, at de danske klasser, de kører i meget højere niveau end de grønlandske gør. I: Gør de det? B: Det har jeg lagt mærke til. I: I alle fag, eller specielt i engelsk?
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
B: I alle fag, næsten. Undtagen til grønlandsk. I: Hvorfor tror du det er? B: Det ved jeg ikke. Jeg undrer mig sådan lidt over det. Det er fordi da jeg kom fra den grønlandske, så var jeg en af dem der var bedst til alt muligt, og så da jeg kom ind i klassen, så var jeg den der sad netop på middel. I: Kan det have noget med lærerne at gøre, måske, at der er mange danske lærere heroppe? A: På den skole som han gik på, den gik jeg nemlig også på, på den skole så ja. Fordi lærerne de var ikke sådan, så gode til det. Til at undervise igen. De var i hvert fald ikke lige så gode som de er på den her skole. I: Okay. B: Det afhænger jo af lærerne, hvordan det sådan kører. Det er lige så meget lærernes, hvad hedder det, arbejdskraft det kommer an på. I: Jeg tænker også bare, at hvis man er i en dansksproget klasse med en dansksproget lærer, så kan det også hurtigt gå hurtigere, fordi der ikke er så mange pauser med at man skal stå og forklare ting igen og igen, fordi der måske sidder nogle, der ikke kan dansk, frem for hvis du har en grønlandsk klasse med en dansk lærer, som måske er en ligeså dygtig klasse i virkeligheden, men der er bare nogle sproglige ting der gør at de måske misforstår hinanden mere end man gør når man taler samme sprog flydende. [pause] Så er der det med engelsk. Vi vil jo meget gerne vide hvad I synes. Er der noget i vores spørgeskema som I undrede jer over, eller som I synes vi skulle have spurgt om og som vi ikke spurgte om? I: Er der nogle spørgsmål I ikke kunne forstå hvorfor vi spurgte om, der var mærkelige? C: Der var et par stykker, jeg kan bare ikke huske dem.
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D: Jeg har meget svært ved at stave, jeg synes egentlig aldrig jeg har lært sådan noget sådan med udsagnsord, navneord og sådan noget på engelsk. Det synes jeg var meget svært, men ellers … Jeres spørgsmål og sådan noget var egentlig nemme nok, det var bare… Jeg kunne bare ikke rigtig finde ud af det, sådan at svare rigtigt på det. I: Okay. B: De er forståelige nok. I: I var også meget hurtige, må man nok sige. I: Ja. I er klart den hurtigste klasse vi har været ude ved. [pause] Hvad synes I der er det sværeste, eller det sjoveste eller det letteste ved at lære engelsk? Hvis I kan svare på det overhovedet. C: Det letteste det er at snakke det, synes jeg, og forstå det. D: Jeg synes det kan være svært at udtale nogen gange. C: Det har jeg ikke sådan problemer med, det er mest det mundtlige. Det skriftlige det kan jeg ikke i nogen sprog. D: Det er også fordi, jeg gider ikke lyde rigtig dansk, når jeg snakker engelsk, jeg vil gerne prøve at lyde som en amerikaner eller englænder eller et eller andet. I: Det kan være rigtig svært når man ikke er det… Hvad med grammatik, er det svært, er det noget I lærer. Hvad med ordforråd, er det svært at forstå nogle ord, eller? B: Engelsk har faktisk ret mange regler inde i grammatikken end de fleste andre sprog. I: Ja, der er mange ting at holde styr på. B: Det som jeg sådan kan komme ind og få lidt fejl på, det får jeg næsten hele tiden.
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Og du synes så ikke, at du kan bruge dine andre sprog til at hjælpe dig med engelsk, jeg ved godt det ikke er det samme, men man siger tit det der med at nu har man lært at lære et sprog, altså I har lært at lære et sprog ved at I har lært grønlandsk og I har lært dansk, og derfor burde det være nemmere for jer at lære engelsk end det er for os, for eksempel. Fordi vi kun har dansk. Men det synes I ikke, at I sådan har? C: Jeg kan ikke særlig meget grønlandsk, faktisk. I: Okay, så er det også lidt problematisk, så hjælper det ikke så meget. D: Jeg tror ikke der er nogen stor forskel, sådan rigtig. I: Så det er ikke en fordel, nødvendigvis? Okay. [udeladt: forsøg på at få eleverne til selv at bringe emner på banen] I: Nu nævnte du det her med at der er stor forskel på de dansksprogede klasser og de grønlandsksprogede klasser, og tempo og sådan noget, så hvad tror I så med en grønlandsksproget klasse, med deres engelske, og hvordan det så fungerer? Hvad tænker I omkring forskellene der? Går det så også langsommere, eller er det sværere for dem? C: Jeg tror at de grønlandske klasser de har lidt mere problemer med at lære engelsk. [I: Ja] Men det er også mest fordi når det er man går rundt inde i byen og hører nogen der ikke kan dansk og når de så prøver at sige engelsk, så går det ikke særlig godt for dem en gang imellem. A: Det kommer så også mere an på om deres lærer er grønlandsk, sådan så at selve læreren også kan forklare hvad det ord på engelsk det betyder, fordi hvis det er en dansk lærer, så begynder han eller hun jo at forklare det på dansk, de grønlandske elever de kan jo ikke forstå det så godt på dansk måske eller sådan noget. Så det hele det kommer også an på læreren og sådan noget der.
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
C: Jeg har så også hørt at de fleste engelsklærere her i byen de er dansksprogede, og kan ikke grønlandsk og sådan noget, så det er vel også et problem. I: Jeg tror også der er stor mangel, så vidt vi kan forstå, på lærere, så tager man jo også hvad man kan få. Det ville selvfølgelig være bedst, hvis de var grønlandsksprogede, men hvis ikke der er nogen, så er det svært. [pause] I: I skal have tusind tak. Det var rigtig sødt af jer, det sætter vi stor pris på. Tak for hjælpen.
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
Interview II ________________________________________________________________________________ []
til overlap i tale
()
til uforståelig tale
_______
til når taler selv understreger noget
NEJ
til høje udbrud
[latter]
til øvrige mundtlige udtryk
….
til kortere pauser
[pause]
til længere pauser
E: F: G: H: I: Interviewer(e)
For at sikre informanternes anonymitet er deres navne ikke angivet. Desuden er navne, der nævnes af informanterne, blevet ændret.
I: Vores undersøgelse går ud på at finde ud af hvordan tosprogede har det med at lære engelsk som tredje sprog. I København har vi været ude på skoler hvor der både har været etnisk danske børn og tosprogede børn, for at se om der en forskel på den oplevelse man har af at lære engelsk og også om man måske bliver bedre til det når man har flere sprog at trække på, og flere erfaringer med at lære sprog. Så det vi gerne vil vide, og gerne vil have jer til at fortælle lidt om, det er jeres oplevelse af at lære engelsk som et tredje sprog. Men hvis I nu starter med at fortælle hvad jeres første sprog og andet sprog er, så vi ligesom ved om det er dansk eller grønlandsk i fortrinsvist taler.
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Mit første sprog er dansk og andet sprog er grønlandsk. F: Mit første sprog er grønlandsk og det andet er dansk. G: Jeg blander dem ret meget sammen, så… [I: Så du er sådan lidt] Ja. Det startede [F: Jeg snakker (…) med mine forældre], det startede først med grønlandsk, og så er jeg begyndt at blande grønlandsk og dansk sammen. I: Man kan sagtens skifte modersmål i løbet af sit liv. I: Så det kan godt være, at du synes dansk er dit modersmål nu, selvom det har været grønlandsk. G: Ja, det synes jeg. F: Det synes jeg også. H: Mit første sprog det er nok dansk og så andet sprog det er grønlandsk, tror jeg nok. I: I er ikke helt sikre? H: Nej, men vi snakker jo begge dele, så… E: Ja. Blander det ret meget. I: Man kan jo også have to. Der er jo nogle, der vokser op og taler to lige meget fra starten. [pause] Men hvad tænker I i forhold til at lære engelsk? Tror I det er nemmere, fordi I har to sprog eller tror I det er sværere, og hvorfor tror I det? F: Det kommer som det kommer, eller… Hvis man kan sige det på den måde altså. Fordi jeg lærte, jeg er sådan lidt engelsk der fordi jeg rejste meget da jeg var mindre sammen med mine forældre og sådan noget, fordi min onkel bor i Spanien. Så han boede sammen med en-eller-anden som hed
2
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Juan, ikk’, og ham prøvede jeg så at kommunikere med da jeg var lille på sådan en meget sjov engelsk accent som jeg havde, det var sådan, jeg prøvede at kommunikere med ham på engelsk og så, efterhånden så, lidt efter lidt så lærte jeg lidt engelsk og sådan noget, og så fra TV og sådan noget fordi jeg så meget fjernsyn, og det gør jeg stadig, så… I: Tror du så det er nemmere, fordi du kan nogle flere sprog, eller sværere, eller ville det være det samme? F: Jeg synes bare det er sådan, det er faktisk sådan lidt nemmere alligevel tror jeg, fordi man har det med at udvikle de der forskellige, hvad hedder sådan nogen… E: Man har noget at sammenligne det med, agtig. G: Jeg synes grønlandske, dem der kun kan snakke grønlandsk, de har sværere ved at lære engelsk. E & F: Ja. I: Hvorfor det? E: De har svært ved at udtale ordene. I: Så det har noget at gøre med hvor langt sprogene ligger fra hinanden? E: Ja. Fordi der er jo også mange danskere, de kan slet ikke udtale de grønlandske ord. [Latter] I: Der må vi vist melde os under fanerne, for eksempel bare skolens navn… I: Så I tror at fordi man har flere erfaringer med at lære sprog, altså det at man har lært at lære et sprog, at det gør det også nemmere når man så skal lære sit tredje sprog?
3
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Ja, på en eller anden måde. I: Men hvis man nu kun har dansk som sit sprog, og så skal lære engelsk? E: Jamen så får man jo engelsk noget tidligere end man får, end vi gør. F: Vi fik det i hvad for en klasse? Syvende… A & G: Syvende klasse. F: Vi har haft engelsk i tre år. E: Ja, så de får det jo noget tidligere, og så har de jo så længere til at sådan lære det agtig… Og så er der så mange af de danske ord der ligner de danske, engelske, på en eller anden måde. F: Så man kan sammenligne [E: Ja]. I: Hvad tror I så der vil ske nu hvor I så skal til at lære engelsk fra tredje klasse heroppe? F: Det er fedt. I: Det skal børnene jo nu. F: Ja. Det synes jeg er rigtig [G: Det synes jeg også] [E: Det synes jeg også er godt]. I: Tror I så de vil have nemmere ved det end I måske havde, fordi de lærer det tidligere? H: Ja. G: Ja
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Ja, det tror jeg. [H: Det tror jeg] De har… De har fået mange flere sprog som valgfag end i, i det der nye (Itorsifiaq??). G: Vi har for eksempel ikke haft spansk og tysk, ligesom de andre. F: Jo vi har tysk. E: Vi har ikke haft tysk. G: Vi har ikke haft tysk. E: Tre uger… G: Tre gange. [Latter] H: Og så gik han ud for batterier, så… I: Men hvad så med lærerne heroppe? Der er jo nogle af lærerne, der kun kan dansk, for eksempel… F: Jeg synes det er godt nok altså …[E: Ja, det synes jeg også] fordi, der er bedre at høre på dansk synes jeg fordi det er så meget nemmere end grønlandsk, fordi… E: Ja, det er meget mere enkelt på en eller anden måde, fordi grønlandsk det er så langt… G: Det er lange ord de bruger. E: Ja, meget lange ord. F: Så når man skriver, så er det bare otteogtyve bogstaver og sådan noget.
5
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Ja, og der er atten i alt, sådan forskellige… Så det sådan lidt… Det er noget nemmere med dansk. I: Men hvis man nu har svært ved dansk, hvis man nu kan grønlandsk og kan lidt dansk, og så skal lære engelsk af en lærer, der kun kan dansk, tror I så… F: Det er så lidt svært for dem, tror jeg… E: Ja, det tror jeg også. F: Svært for de fleste i hvert fald. E: Når de i forvejen ikke kan dansk, så har de, altså de har svært ved at udtale dansk og engelsk for den sags skyld. F: Specielt (..) og y [E: Ja] og g, altså k [E: Ja] og p [F: k og p] (….) [Latter] I: Men der er jo også… Altså i København for eksempel, der er det sådan at tosprogede børn, at de har mange forskellige modersmål for det første og så lærer de så dansk som deres andet sprog og det er ikke altid at det går lige godt, det er ikke altid de bliver så gode til det… og så skal de så også lære engelsk igennem dansk, altså deres andetsprog, som de jo ikke er så gode til. Nu er I jo ret gode til dansk, fordi mange er jer siger I har dansk som modersmål… Så jeg tænker bare sådan lidt, når man nu sidder i det her klasselokale og kun kan grønlandsk, fordi vi har været ude i nogle klasser, hvor vi mødte nogle elever som faktisk næsten kun kunne grønlandsk, meget meget lidt dansk [I: Mmm], og der så står denne her lærer der kun kan dansk og skal lære én et helt nyt sprog man slet ikke kender, og som man måske heller ikke hører så meget i fritiden, hvis man kommer ude fra bygderne, det ved jeg ikke.
6
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Det tror jeg det er meget svært for dem, fordi at hvis de i forvejen ikke forstår hvad det er læreren siger, og så skal prøve at forstå et nyt sprog som det er bare det rene volapyk for dem ikk’ også, så må det være meget svært. [I: Ja, mmm] Tror jeg. I: Tror I at det så måske er lidt nemmere for nogle af dem i og med at de så har samme modersmål i hvert fald, i forhold til de tosprogede børn i Danmark, der måske ikke altid kan hjælpe hinanden, for eksempel? … Jeg tænker på at hvis nu der sidder et tyrkisk barn og et arabisk barn, og lidt forskelligt, altså der kan de i hvert fald ikke hjælpe hinanden, hvis der er nogle ting de ikke forstår [E: Jo, så tror jeg det er meget] hvor det kan de da i hvert fald heroppe. E: Ja, der tror, så tror jeg det er meget nemmere fordi så kan de sidde og forklare hinanden, hvis de forstår lidt mere eller sådan, så kan de spørge hinanden [F: Så kan de (…) sådan (…)]. F: Det er derfor vi blev sat til at sidde ved siden af nogle der ikke kunne så meget det der, en gang, der, … dem der kunne, det der halløj, skulle sidde ved siden af de der, kan I ikke huske det? E: Næ, det kan jeg ikke huske, jeg ved ikke hvad du snakker om. [pause] G: Vi skulle sidde ved siden af dem der ikke kunne snakke ordentlig dansk, eller engelsk. E: De der borde hun prøvede at lave, på et tidspunkt. I: Men det holdt ikke, eller hvad? Det lød som om det var noget I prøvede kort, og så blev det ikke [E: Nej, men det] ved med [E: så blev det] G: Nej, hun prøvede det hele tiden [F: Nej, men det fordi, det] E: Men så blev der for meget snak i det, fordi så sidder man sådan en stor gruppe
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
F: Eller så var det noget fast, det var dem der lavede mest, og ikke rigtig kunne samarbejde [E: Ja] så I: Okay. Så det var ikke så meget sprog, det var mere om man var flittig, eller ej, eller E: Ja, sådan agtig. I: Okay. F: Så man gerne skulle… have sådan en positiv bevirkning på den anden, eller sådan… [latter] [pause] I: Nå, men en anden ting vi også gerne vil vide, det er hvad synes I er det sværeste ved at lære engelsk, hvad er det sjoveste, hvad er det letteste, hvad er det… mest spændende? F: Jeg kan ikke huske hvad det er det sværeste ved det er. G: Jeg synes det sværeste det er måske grammatikken. E: Ja, det synes jeg også, de der, de der… [G: nutid, datid, og] de der was og had [G: where] de der [G: were] irriterende nogle [G: were, med eller uden, altså] Ja. De er nemme at bytte rundt på. E: Jeg synes det letteste det er sådan bare at snakke, sådan… G: Ja. Det er meget nemmere at snakke. H: Det kan jeg ikke engang. [latter] Jeg hader, jeg kan ikke engang udtale engelsk. F: (…) en af de tre uger [E: Ja], så tænker man engelsk op til ti agtig [E: Ja] I: Okay.
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Sådan, så det skriftlige er svært? E: Ja. G: Ja det skriftlige er lidt sværere end det mundtlige. E: Ja. Det synes jeg også. I: Men har I let ved at forstå det? [E, F, G: Ja] I: Du siger du ikke er så god til at tale det, men du kan godt forstå det eller hvad? H: Jeg kan godt forstå det, men altså… E: Du kan også godt engelsk hvis du skal. H: Ja. Ja, hvis jeg er i England så kan jeg godt snakke engelsk og sådan, men jeg snakker ikke engelsk når jeg er her. I: Okay. Altså fordi du synes det er svært, eller fordi du er bange for at det lyder dumt, for sådan kan man jo godt have det, [H: Ja] man synes det… H: Ja. Det lyder sikkert virkelig dumt når jeg snakker det, og … jeg siger, jeg siger bare… [griner] Jeg kan ikke… I: Men man bliver jo bedre ved at øve sig. H: Ja… F: Jo, det gør man da.
9
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
H: Og når jeg læser en bog på engelsk, så fatter jeg ikke en skid [griner]. I: Det er også noget andet at læse det end bare at høre når andre folk taler det. F: Jeg synes faktisk, det faktisk er, det faktisk ligeså nemt at læse det som at høre det, synes jeg. H: I kan jo også flydende engelsk, jer tre, kan I ikke? G: Jo… E: Stort set. H: Det kan jeg så ikke. I: Hvad synes du så om spørgeskemaet dér, for eksempel, hvis du kan huske det nu, det I lavede den anden dag… Var det svært? H: Ja. [griner] Det var meget nemt, nogle af dem, men… men altså, hvis det var jeg ikke forstod så [latter] så (..) lavede det bare for sjov. I: Var der nogle af spørgsmålene som I undrede jer over, i spørgeskemaet? Nu ved jeg ikke om (…) G: Der, der var et par ord jeg ikke kunne forstå som … hvad var det nu… altså nogle mærkelige ord i den… på engelsk. I: Indicate, måske? Det tror jeg der var nogen der spurgte om. G: Ja, måske… Sikkert. I: Jeg tænkte ikke så meget ord, men om der var nogle af spørgsmålene, hvor I tænkte, at det var da noget mærkeligt noget at spørge om… måske ikke kunne forstå hvorfor vi skulle spørge om det?
10
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Det kan jeg faktisk ikke huske… I: Nej… E: Nå ja, vores forældres uddannelse. I: Ja. … Nå men det er fordi det er meget almindeligt at spørge om sådan nogle slags undersøgelser, om… det man kalder folks socioøkonomiske baggrund, det vil sige om de kommer fra en familie der kan give dem god støtte, og det er tit noget, der hænger sammen med økonomi. Det viser sig i alle mulige former for undersøgelser. Så det var lidt det, det handlede om. [E: Okay] Men det prøvede vi så også at spørge om på en anden måde, om I fik noget hjælp til lektier derhjemme, for eksempel, om der var lidt støtte hjemmefra på den måde. Det er meget forskelligt, det kan have en påvirkning på hvordan man klarer sig. Det var derfor. … Hvad var der mere.. som vi forklarede da vi var ude, der? Det var… den der med om ens sprog ligner hinanden [E: Åh]. F: Jeg synes faktisk de tre forskellige sprog de er sådan, de er sådan hver for sig. E: Ja. Dansk og engelsk kan godt ligne hinanden en lille smule… på nogle områder, men… men grønlandsk og engelsk det hænger slet ikke sammen [latter]. I: Nej… De er meget forskellige. E: Ja. [pause] I: Har I nogen… ting I vil byde ind med? [hvisken og latter] E: Øh, næ [pause] [I: Nej] Ikke rigtig.
11
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
F: Bare spørg om noget andet… vi er lige klar til at svare på alle spørgsmål der kommer. G: (så vi kan klare flere?) spørgsmål. [latter] I: Jeg kan godt finde på et, tror jeg. Hvad tror I er det aller vigtigste, når man skal lære et sprog. Altså er det motivation, er det støtte hjemmefra, er det gode lærere, er det en god [F: Gode lærere for det meste] skole. E: Motivation er også, altså hvis du ikke har motivation, så kan du ikke rigtig… så hænger det ikke sammen agtig, fordi… altså du skal jo også yde en indsats, det er ikke kun læreren der skal… [I: Mmm] …så. F: Det kommer så også an på hvilken en lærer det er og sådan [E: Ja, det er rigtigt]. [pause] E: Det er nok, det er nok en blanding af det hele [I: Ja] … vil jeg tro. I: Okay, men hvis I skulle sige det aller vigtigste, hvad ville det så være? E: Motivation. I: Du ville sige motivation, og hvad ville du sige? F: Ja, det [griner] … Det svinger lidt… I: Okay… G: Jeg vil hellere have en god lærer.
12
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
H: Det vil jeg også. I: En god lærer? [G: Ja] Okay. H: Vi har en god lærer nu, men det havde vi ikke før. [F: Hvem, Alice?] Ja. F: (…) for nemt alligevel. E: Mmm, det var for nemt. I: Hvad er så en god lærer, når det handler om engelsk, er det en der er god til at tale det? H: En der er lidt streng, tror jeg. G: Også en der begynder let. [H: Ja] Det skal være en der begynder let, ikke ligesom vi fortalte om dengang vi skulle til at have tysk, så kom han bare med en masse tyske bøger, som vi så bare skulle læse op [F: Nå ja, og som vi bare ikke forstod en skid af]. E: Vi stod bare sådan, hørh, og vi anede ikke bogstaverne, hvordan de skal udtales og sådan noget, ajh. Så må I bare lære det, sådan er det. Og så stod vi bare der, øhh. I: Det er en svær start. E: Ja, også sådan en lidt træls start. Men så … (..) så rendte han ud for batterier, så. F: Jeg prøvede at blive sendt ud og printe papir, det var nok det sjoveste jeg… [latter] E: Næ, ikke printe, fotokopiere. F: Richtig [H: Richtig] Wichtig [H: At I gør det wichtig]
13
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Nej omvendt [griner]. D & F: Det er wichtig at I gør det richtig [latter]. H: Achtig [E: Ja] [latter] I: Der var en anden ting jeg tænkte på. Nu bor I i et tosproget samfund. Synes I det har nogen betydning i jeres hverdag, at… at I lever sådan med to sprog og der er nogen der kun kan det ene og nogen kun kan det andet, og man helst skal kunne begge to? F: De hører også med i sådan nogle forskellige grupper, faktisk. E: Ja. Altså man bliver sådan… man går sådan agtig i grupper efter hvilke sprog man har, eller hvilke sprog man kan agtig på en eller anden måde. Fordi, at dem der kun kan grønlandsk de går mest sammen med dem der snakker meget grønlandsk og dem der kun kan dansk de går mest, sådan, med dem der kun snakker dansk, og dem der så kan begge, de går så med hinanden, agtig. I: Så det deler sig hurtig ind [F: Mmm; E: Ja] efter hvad man kan af sprog. [E: Ja] Okay. E: Sådan, ellers sådan, også… [F: ligesom sprogrejser] Nu kan vi jo så alle, altså, eller begge, ikke også, og så går vi sådan og blander meget og alligevel så forstår vi godt hvad det er vi mener, sådan, selvom det måske er nye ord, agtig… man opfinder, agtig. I: Okay. Så det sprog man kan, det har meget at gøre med hvordan man socialt [E: Ja], altså hvilke grupper man socialt kommer i? F: Det er også meget sådan, dem der ikke kan engelsk og dansk og sådan, de, de er også meget mere sky agtige, hvis man kan sige det på den måde [E: agtig]. De har svært, de er sådan lidt mere asociale end de fleste tror jeg. Men sociale med hinanden hvor de kan snakke det samme sprog og sådan noget.
14
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Nå men altså jeg tror også det er svært, sådan… for eksempel hvis der er én der kun snakker grønlandsk og så én der måske kan begge, men blander sine sprog rigtig meget, så er det svært for den der kan begge sprog at udtrykke sig kun på grønlandsk… Fordi at man er så vant til at blande sprogene. I: Okay. [pause] H: Det er også når man er i Danmark, så lægger man mærke til når man kun er sammen med danske…, ikke, så kommer man til at sige gaa eller sådan… E: Ja, eller sådan… Eller at man kan ikke lige finde det rigtige ord for et eller andet grønlandsk man plejer at sige, eller sådan… G: Sæ, sæi [E: Ja] [latter] Sæi, det er ligesom når man lyver [de andre gentager ordet]. Det er sådan, der er faktisk flere forskellige sprog i de forskellige byer her i Grønland, så i… I Sisimiut, så siger, i stedet for at sige sæ, så siger de nehu [I: Okay] Og i (…), så siger de ibor [latter] E: Det er sådan lidt forskelligt hvordan, altså… aap og [F/G: napa] Altså aap, det er ja, ikk’, det siger man her, i Sisimiut der siger man su og i Østgrønland der siger man ii. I: Nå, der er stor forskel så. F: Ja. Det er ligesom når man skriver (……………, ………….), (………, ..…..). Det sådan… G: Altså (………), (……….) [latter]
15
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
H: Hvad betyder gaa så? E: Hold da op. [G: Gaa] H: Hold da op… Man ved godt hvad det betyder på grønlandsk, men ikke på dansk. F: Man kan sagtens forstå det, det er bare anderledes den måde de siger det på, og sådan noget altså [E: Mmm] Man kan sagtens forstå det, det er bare… lidt anderledes rundt omkring… fra by til by. I: Ja. Men er det ligesom dialekter i Danmark, eller [E: Ja, sådan agtig] eller som norsk, svensk og… E: Nej det er sådan mere ligesom nordjysk og sønderjysk. G: Det her sprog vi snakker på Grønland her og så med dem fra Østgrønland, det er ligesom fra København og dem fra Bornholm, eller hvad. I: Okay. I: Der er jo også alligevel en forskel… men man også forstår hinanden. E: Men i Østgrønland, der snakker de sådan noget der slet ikke lyder grønlandsk agtig. Det lyder som et helt andet sprog og de snakker rigtig hurtigt, og det er rigtig mærkeligt. Halvdelen af min familie er derovre fra, og det er rigtig svært at snakke med dem. I: Så det er sådan lidt sønderjysk agtigt? E: Ja, agtigt. H: Det kan jeg ikke, det kan jeg ikke forstå. E: Det er sådan den grønlandske udgave af sønderjysk.
16
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Men lige for at vende tilbage til de der opdelinger i grupper, med sprog og sådan, altså, er der så nogen grupper, som bliver set bedre på end andre grupper, eller… F: Det er faktisk… E: De dobbeltsprogede vil jeg tro. G: Ja, de dobbeltsprogede… de bliver set mest, fordi de kan også godt blande sig med de andre grupper [E: Ja] F: End at bare være med i en gruppe hele tiden. G: Ja. E: Ja. Og der er også mange job og sådan noget hvor du skal være dobbeltsproget… sådan, helst. I: Hvad så med de grupper der primært taler grønlandsk, eller primært taler dansk, er der nogen, bliver de set på forskellige måder? F: Nej, men det er bare, fordi jeg plejer mest at være sammen med de, den danske klasse her. De har sådan nogle meget forskellige synspunkter på hinanden… fordi, ja… det er faktisk meget forskelligt hvordan de ser hinanden som, agtig. I: Hvordan, kan du forklare, eller kan I forklare hvad forskellen er? F: Det er sådan lidt, hvor de ser lidt mere primitivt på det, agtig sådan… [E: Mmm] I: Altså synes du de grønlandske grupper er primitive, eller? F: Nej, nej. Eller jo…
17
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Jo, på en eller anden måde. Sådan lidt mere, sådan lidt mere… [G: Dumme] Ja [Griner] eller antimoderne agtige [F: Godt kan være rigtig…] Ja, gammeldags. På en måde. I: Og hvordan tror I så de grønlandsksprogede de opfatter dem der næsten kun taler dansk? G: De er nogle idioter. [latter] E: Ja, de er nogle idioter. H: Ja, fuck dem. E: Der er mange der sådan ikke kan li at der er så mange danskere i Grønland… Men det er jo noget fis, for altså, grønlændere kan ikke klare sig uden danskere, sådan. Men der er mange der synes at det er noget… at det ikke er godt at der er så mange danskere i Grønland. I: Hvad så med de grønlandskudseende børn, som så vælger måske at tale dansk, eller kun har lært dansk, er der forskel på det, fra dem der også ser danske ud, for eksempel? F: Ja, der er sådan, rimelig meget forskel [E: Ja] … Jeg kender også en der, en grønlænder, der ligner en grønlænder, men kun snakker dansk, ikke grønlandsk [G: Det er Frederik] [H: Bo] Nej, Bo. I: Men bliver de så set på en anden måde end, end andre? F: Jeg ved det ikke, fordi de tror de er grønlandske og sådan noget, så… så det er sådan lidt sjovt at de ikke forstår grønlandsk eller snakker grønlandsk [G: Sikkert kun et par ord] Ja. E: Ja… Min, min far han er også, han er født og opvokset her i Grønland, og han er meget meget lys og har blå øjne, og ligner seriøst en dansker, men han kan ikke grønlandsk, han kan kun forstå
18
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
grønlandsk, sådan … ikke, og der er også mange der tror han er dansker, dum dansker, og kalder ham sådan noget… F: Det er specielt de der ældre drankere… E: Ja. Sådan noget [F: Drankere] Ja… Dem der står nede foran Brugsen [griner] F: Dine bedste venner [E: Ja [griner]] I: Ja, i Brøndby hedder det dem der står bag Netto. [latter] F: Vi kalder det så foran Brugsen. [latter] E: Dem foran Brugsen. F: De ser meget grønlandske ud. G: Der er også lavet en sang om dem. [sang på grønlandsk] F: Det betyder så, sidder ude for Brugsen, dejligt vejr… E: Ja, og vi er ude. H: Sidder og drikker en øl. I: Nå, men jeg tror ikke jeg har flere spørgsmål.
19
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Nej, jeg tror heller ikke… F: Jo, kom nu. [latter] I: Jamen så må I selv finde på noget at fortælle os, hvis det er… F: Dig. E: Hvorfor mig? F: Hvorfor ikke? I: Det skal være relevant. H: Hvordan lærte du at snakke engelsk, hva’? E: Hvad? G: Hvor har du lært engelsk fra? F: Hvor har du lært engelsk? E: Hvor jeg har lært engelsk? [F: Ja, hvor] Jeg har lært engelsk derhjemme, og hjemme ved Lisa og i England. G: Øhm, hjemme ved Lisa, eller, og hjemme…? E: Nå, men altså vi fik undervisning af Lisas mor på et tidspunkt, og så…
20
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
F: Da I var hvor gamle? E: Aner det ikke! Det ved jeg ikke, ni eller sådan noget. I: Hvornår har du været i England? E: I sommers, på sprogrejse, i England. G: Der var vi også i studierejse. E: Nå ja, vi var også i London på studierejse. I: Var det godt? E: Ja, det var skægt. G: Ja, det var rigtig sjovt. H: Det kan vi godt prøve igen. G: Bare gå rundt alene om aftenen. F: Det var fedt, det var sådan, helt vild bonus agtig, sådan. [udeladt: røverhistorier om tidligere klassekammerat] I: Hvordan var det så da I var i London, hvordan var det så at bruge engelsk? Var det anderledes end… E: Det var rigtig fedt. H: Jeg kunne godt bruge det.
21
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Du kunne godt bruge det? [G: Det var bare svært at lade være med at sige fuck] I: Var det så fordi at du lige pludselig skulle bruge det? [I: Uh, det skal man ikke bruge så meget i England.] H: Det er fordi jeg skal bruge det. G: Nej vel. De bliver skidegale når de hører det. [F: Det er dobbeltmoralsk, er det ikke] E: Vi snakker alle sammen på én gang. I: Det er bare noget med, at når danskere bruger engelske ord som fuck og den slags ord, så bruger man det bare lidt i flæng, men når du så rent faktisk taler med folk der taler engelsk, så har det en meget stærkere betydning, så det skal man lige passe på med. G: En af mine venner, da vi var i London, så første dag om aftenen, der tog vi hen til et sted der hed Angels og så skulle vi derover på en stor shoppingcenter eller sådan noget der, så købte vi noget sodavand og noget slik, så havde han glemt sin pung, og han stod der ved kassen foran kassedamen… så prøver han at lede efter sin pung, og så siger han, fuck, så går han, og så kommer vagten efter ham [H: Hvem?] Peter [H: [griner] Hvad sagde han så?] vagten kommer efter ham, så siger han did you say fuck to me? [latter] [udeladt: mere snak om engelske bandeord – og lidt fransk…] I: Jeg tænkte på en sidste ting [F: Sidste ting?]. Du snakkede om, at når du er i Danmark for eksempel, så står du nogle gange og mangler nogle ord, som du ville sige på grønlandsk, hvis der var nogen der forstod det. [H: Mmm] Så tænker jeg, i den situation, tænker du så indtil du finder noget på dansk, eller bruger du måske nogen gange noget fra engelsk, så, fordi du ved de også kan noget engelsk?
22
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
H: Nej. [I: Nej] Så bruger jeg kun dansk. I: Okay. H: Fordi min familie i Danmark, de… I: De er måske ikke så gode til engelsk, eller hvad? H: Nej. I: Nej, okay. Så dur det jo heller ikke. F: Nogle gange, ligesom, ligesom hvis man glemmer ord på dansk, og ligesom, så kan man godt finde på at bruge sådan engelske ord i stedet, når man glemmer nogle forskellige ord. E: Det er bare sådan, man tager bare det første ord, der popper op i hovedet på én [I: Ja] agtig [I: Uanset hvad sprog det er] Ja. I: Men hvad er I så mest til, er I mest til amerikansk engelsk eller er I mest til britisk engelsk? H: Ah, hun er, hun er… hun snakker total engelsk [G: engelsk, engelsk] accent. E: Ja, jeg snakker snobbet engelsk, men det er så fordi at, at der da vi var de der tre uger i England, så… alle vores lærere og den familie vi boede hos og deres børn og børnebørn, alle sammen de snakker bare sådan noget snobbet engelsk og så bliver man påvirket af det og så [I: Britisk engelsk?] Ja. I: Ikke nødvendigvis snobbet engelsk. E: Jamen det er jo fordi det kalder vores lærer det. [latter]
23
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Nå, ej men jeg ville kalde det britisk engelsk. E: Nå, men så britisk engelsk. G: Hun er også engelsk. I: Nå, så differentierer hun måske nok lidt mere… I: Ja, men det synes jeg nu stadigvæk… G: Det lyder rigtig irriterende når hun snakker engelsk. I: Gør det det? E: Det synes de. De synes det, jeg kan ikke.. G: Prøv at læse noget op på engelsk E: Læse noget op på engelsk, hvad skulle jeg læse af? H: Så snak dog, sig dit navn og… alt mulig lort. F: Sig dit navn. I: Det er svært på kommando E: Ja. Jeg kan ikke amerikansk engelsk I: Okay. I: Det kan du lære [I: Hvad med jer andre?]
24
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
G: Ja. Det er det jeg helst vil snakke. I: Du vil helst snakke amerikansk engelsk? [G: Ja] E: Men jeg kan ikke li’ amerikansk engelsk I: Det kunne jeg heller ikke, men så… I: Så giftede du dig med en amerikaner. I: Så giftede jeg mig med en amerikaner, så nu hænger jeg på den [E: Ja, okay] Nu er der ikke noget at gøre, nu blander jeg det hele, amerikansk, britisk, dansk. E: Wow, så mangler du bare grønlandsk [I: Ja] [latter] I: Ej, jeg tvivler… det tager nok lige et par år, så skal jeg nok have lidt længere tid end to uger, tænker jeg… E: Ja, måske. Min stedfar er dansker, han har været her i femten år og han kan ikke et eneste ord på grønlandsk. I: Nå, det vil jeg så tro… det vil jeg da håbe, at jeg kunne. [Udeladt: elever til interviewere, Hvad synes I om Grønland…] I: Nå, vi må hellere til at runde af. Men vi kunne jo lige tage, hvad er du mest til, amerikansk eller britisk engelsk? F: Jamen, efter jeg har været i England, så er det nok mest britisk engelsk, men jeg prøver at lade være med at snakke det, fordi det…
25
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
E: Fordi resten af klassen hader det. F: Ja. [latter] I: Okay. Gruppepres… F: Ja… Det er sådan mere amerikansk engelsk, tror jeg. H: Jeg snakker dum engelsk. [latter] I: Dansk engelsk måske? H: Mmm. Grønlænder engelsk [A griner]. I: Nå, har I noget der hedder Grenglish, så? [latter] Har I det? [E: Nej] Nå, men ligesom i Danmark der, hvis man ikke er særlig god til engelsk, for eksempel, eller man bruger meget dansk accent [I: Hvis man bare har en stærk dansk accent] I: Jæs ju nou, if ju speek laik dis. [latter] [I: Så er det Danglish] I: Så er det Danglish, og så tænkte jeg nu, hvis I gør det her i Grønland, så er det Grenglish, eller [latter]
26
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
I: Hvordan lyder det? Er der en der kan give en prøve på det? F: you kno’ E: Ju nå [latter] F: Det lyder lidt japansk agtig [I: Okay] som en japaner der snakker engelsk. E: Agtig, det lyder, det lyder ikke så kønt. F: Ikke særlig, sådan, begavet. I: Det kan være vi skal lade som om vi kun kan engelsk nogle dage, så vi kan få… [latter] det afprøvet rundt omkring. I: Det der Grenglish, som ikke eksisterer. I: Nå, okay. Men I skal have tusind tak for hjælpen. [Udeladt: protester om at blive længere]
27
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Statistical Output _____________________________________________________________________________________
Background variables............................................................................... 1
Age and gender distribution.......................................................................................................................1 Country of birth .........................................................................................................................................2 Citizenship .................................................................................................................................................3 Sense of nationality....................................................................................................................................4 L1, L2 & L3...............................................................................................................................................5 Copenhagen test results .............................................................................................................................7 Overall test score...................................................................................................................................7 Test assessment......................................................................................................................................9 Tasks ....................................................................................................................................................10 Metalinguistic tasks .............................................................................................................................15 Nuuk test results ......................................................................................................................................16 Overall test score.................................................................................................................................16 Test assessment....................................................................................................................................17 Tasks ....................................................................................................................................................17 Metalinguistic tasks .............................................................................................................................23 English literacy skills in relation to overall test score .............................................................................24 Socio-economic background ...................................................................................................................39
Hypothesis A: Interdependence............................................................. 48
Sub-hypothesis A.1: L1 education...........................................................................................................48 Sub-hypothesis A.2: Active versus passive use of L1.............................................................................50 Sub-hypothesis A.3: Literacy skills.........................................................................................................55 A.3.1: L1 literacy skills level of English proficiency ......................................................................55 A.3.2: L2 literacy skills level of English proficiency ......................................................................62 Sub-hypothesis A.4: Code-switching ......................................................................................................66
Hypothesis B: Typology.......................................................................... 68
Sub-hypothesis B.1: Typological distance ..............................................................................................68 Sub-hypothesis B.2: Psychotypology ......................................................................................................70
Hypothesis C: Metalinguistic knowledge.............................................. 73 Hypothesis D: Motivation....................................................................... 74
Sub-hypothesis D.1: Effort ......................................................................................................................74 Sub-hypothesis D.2: Affect .....................................................................................................................80 D.2.1: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes ..............................................................80 D.2.2: Respondent attitudes in relation to level of English proficiency ............................................126 Sub-hypothesis D.3: Orientation ...........................................................................................................180
Hypothesis E: Usage and exposure...................................................... 185
Sub-hypothesis E.1: Usage of English...................................................................................................185 Sub-hypothesis E.2: Exposure to English..............................................................................................187
Additional findings ............................................................................... 201
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Background variables _____________________________________________________________________________________
Age and gender distribution Copenhagen: Statistics N
Valid Missing
Mean
Age 91 0 15,21
Gender 91 0
Age
Valid
14 15 16 Total
Frequency 1 70 20 91
Percent 1,1 76,9 22,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 1,1 78,0 100,0
Valid Percent 1,1 76,9 22,0 100,0
Gender
Valid
Boy Girl Total
Frequency 53 38 91
Percent 58,2 41,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 58,2 100,0
Valid Percent 58,2 41,8 100,0
Nuuk: Statistics N Mean
Valid Missing
Age 96 0 15,33
Gender 96 0
1
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Age
Valid
15 16 Total
Frequency 64 32 96
Percent 66,7 33,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 66,7 100,0
Valid Percent 66,7 33,3 100,0
Gender
Valid
Boy Girl Total
Frequency 51 45 96
Percent 53,1 46,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 53,1 100,0
Valid Percent 53,1 46,9 100,0
Country of birth Copenhagen:
Country of birth L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Denmark Vietnam Macedonia El Salvador Somalia Germany Kosovo Bosnia Afghanistan Iraq Total Denmark Macedonia Total
Frequency 21 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 32 58 1 59
Percent 65,6 3,1 3,1 3,1 9,4 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 100,0 98,3 1,7 100,0
2
Valid Percent 65,6 3,1 3,1 3,1 9,4 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 100,0 98,3 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 65,6 68,8 71,9 75,0 84,4 87,5 90,6 93,8 96,9 100,0 98,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk:
Country of birth
Valid
Denmark Greenland Total
Frequency 3 93 96
Percent 3,1 96,9 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 96,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 100,0
Citizenship Copenhagen: Citizenship L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Danish Macedonian Somali Pakistani Alien citizenship Albanian Moroccan Turkish Persian Danish and Lebanese Danish and Moroccan Total No response Danish
Frequency 16 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 30 2 32 59
Percent 50,0 9,4 3,1 3,1 3,1 6,3 3,1 6,3 3,1 3,1 3,1 93,8 6,3 100,0 100,0
Nuuk: Citizenship
Valid Missing Total
Danish No response
Frequency 95 1 96
Percent 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0
3
Cumulative Percent 100,0
Valid Percent 53,3 10,0 3,3 3,3 3,3 6,7 3,3 6,7 3,3 3,3 3,3 100,0
100,0
Cumulative Percent 53,3 63,3 66,7 70,0 73,3 80,0 83,3 90,0 93,3 96,7 100,0
100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sense of nationality Copenhagen: Sense of nationality L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Danish Vietnamese Somali Pakistani Danish and French Danish and Spanish Albanian Moroccan Bosnian Turkish Kurdish African Danish and Albanian Danish and Arabic Danish and Moroccan Danish and European Somali and African Total No response Danish Swedish European Danish and American Danish and European Danish and African Danish, English and American Total
Cumulative Percent 3,7 11,1 14,8 18,5 22,2 25,9 29,6 33,3 37,0 44,4 51,9 63,0 85,2 88,9 92,6 96,3 100,0
Frequency 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 6 1 1 1 1 27 5 32 49 1 2 1 3 1
Percent 3,1 6,3 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 6,3 6,3 9,4 18,8 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 84,4 15,6 100,0 83,1 1,7 3,4 1,7 5,1 1,7
Valid Percent 3,7 7,4 3,7 3,7 3,7 3,7 3,7 3,7 3,7 7,4 7,4 11,1 22,2 3,7 3,7 3,7 3,7 100,0
83,1 1,7 3,4 1,7 5,1 1,7
83,1 84,7 88,1 89,8 94,9 96,6
2
3,4
3,4
100,0
59
100,0
100,0
4
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Sense of nationality
Valid
Missing Total
Danish Greenlandic Myself Danish and Greenlandic Danish and English African Danish, Greenlandic and English Danish, Greenlandic and American Danish, Greenlandic and Thai Danish, Greenlandic and European Total No response
Frequency 4 51 1 31 1 1
Percent 4,2 53,1 1,0 32,3 1,0 1,0
Valid Percent 4,2 53,7 1,1 32,6 1,1 1,1
Cumulative Percent 4,2 57,9 58,9 91,6 92,6 93,7
1
1,0
1,1
94,7
3
3,1
3,2
97,9
1
1,0
1,1
98,9
1
1,0
1,1
100,0
95 1 96
99,0 1,0 100,0
100,0
L1, L2 & L3 Copenhagen: First language L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Danish Vietnamese Somali Urdu Albanian Arabic Moroccan Bosnian Turkish Kurdish Persian (Farsi) Total Danish
Frequency 5 2 4 1 8 2 4 1 1 3 1 32 59
Percent 15,6 6,3 12,5 3,1 25,0 6,3 12,5 3,1 3,1 9,4 3,1 100,0 100,0
5
Valid Percent 15,6 6,3 12,5 3,1 25,0 6,3 12,5 3,1 3,1 9,4 3,1 100,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 15,6 21,9 34,4 37,5 62,5 68,8 81,3 84,4 87,5 96,9 100,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Second language L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Danish French Spanish Arabic Moroccan Total English
Frequency 27 1 1 2 1 32 59
Percent 84,4 3,1 3,1 6,3 3,1 100,0 100,0
Valid Percent 84,4 3,1 3,1 6,3 3,1 100,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 84,4 87,5 90,6 96,9 100,0 100,0
Third language L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Valid Valid
English 88
Frequency 32 59
Percent 100,0 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0 100,0
Nuuk: First language
Valid
Danish Greenlandic Total
Frequency 11 85 96
Percent 11,5 88,5 100,0
Valid Percent 11,5 88,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 11,5 100,0
Second language
Valid
Danish Greenlandic Total
Frequency 85 11 96
Percent 88,5 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 88,5 11,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 88,5 100,0
Third language
Valid
English
Frequency 96
Percent 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0
6
Cumulative Percent 100,0
Cumulative Percent 100,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Copenhagen test results
Overall test score Statistics Overall score L3 learners
N
L2 learners
Mean N
Valid Missing Valid Missing
Mean
32 0 38,94 59 0 41,14
Overall score: L3 learners
Valid
19 25 26 29 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 50 51 52 Total
Frequency 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 32
Percent 3,1 3,1 3,1 6,3 3,1 6,3 3,1 3,1 15,6 3,1 3,1 6,3 6,3 6,3 3,1 12,5 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 6,3 9,4 15,6 18,8 25,0 28,1 31,3 46,9 50,0 53,1 59,4 65,6 71,9 75,0 87,5 90,6 93,8 96,9 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 3,1 3,1 6,3 3,1 6,3 3,1 3,1 15,6 3,1 3,1 6,3 6,3 6,3 3,1 12,5 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 100,0
7
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Overall score: L2 learners
Valid
15 21 22 23 26 28 29 31 33 35 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Total
Frequency 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 3 7 7 4 2 4 2 1 3 2 3 1 1 59
Percent 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 3,4 1,7 3,4 1,7 1,7 3,4 5,1 5,1 11,9 11,9 6,8 3,4 6,8 3,4 1,7 5,1 3,4 5,1 1,7 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 1,7 3,4 5,1 6,8 8,5 10,2 11,9 15,3 16,9 20,3 22,0 23,7 27,1 32,2 37,3 49,2 61,0 67,8 71,2 78,0 81,4 83,1 88,1 91,5 96,6 98,3 100,0
Valid Percent 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 1,7 3,4 1,7 3,4 1,7 1,7 3,4 5,1 5,1 11,9 11,9 6,8 3,4 6,8 3,4 1,7 5,1 3,4 5,1 1,7 1,7 100,0
8
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test assessment Test assessment L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Total
Very easy Easy Neither easy nor difficult Difficult Total Invalid Very easy Easy Neither easy nor difficult Difficult Very difficult Total Invalid No response Total
Frequency 4 10 15 2 31 1 32 6 14 28 7 1 56 2 1 3 59
Percent 12,5 31,3 46,9 6,3 96,9 3,1 100,0 10,2 23,7 47,5 11,9 1,7 94,9 3,4 1,7 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 12,9 32,3 48,4 6,5 100,0
10,7 25,0 50,0 12,5 1,8 100,0
9
Cumulative Percent 12,9 45,2 93,5 100,0
10,7 35,7 85,7 98,2 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Tasks Statistics
N
Valid Missing
Mean
Scanning total 91 0 3,77
Skimming total 91 0 3,46
Grammar: making sentences total 91 0 2,84
Grammar: verbs and subjects total 91 0 3,54
Grammar: the right tense total 91 0 4,27
Scanning total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 1 1 5 6 14 5 32 2 7 9 15 26 59
Percent 3,1 3,1 15,6 18,8 43,8 15,6 100,0 3,4 11,9 15,3 25,4 44,1 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 3,1 15,6 18,8 43,8 15,6 100,0 3,4 11,9 15,3 25,4 44,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 6,3 21,9 40,6 84,4 100,0 3,4 15,3 30,5 55,9 100,0
10
Understandin g words total 91 0 4,70
Grammar exercise: find the right verb10 81 10 1,62
Grammar exercise: personal pronouns total 91 0 4,51
Grammar exercise: find the right tense total 91 0 3,92
Find the right word total 91 0 4,31
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Skimming total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 2 3 4 5 Total 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 1 6 9 12 4 32 2 7 18 22 10 59
Percent 3,1 18,8 28,1 37,5 12,5 100,0 3,4 11,9 30,5 37,3 16,9 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 18,8 28,1 37,5 12,5 100,0 3,4 11,9 30,5 37,3 16,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 21,9 50,0 87,5 100,0 3,4 15,3 45,8 83,1 100,0
Grammar: making sentences total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 Total 0 1 2 3 4 Total
Frequency 1 3 7 9 12 32 1 8 13 16 21 59
Percent 3,1 9,4 21,9 28,1 37,5 100,0 1,7 13,6 22,0 27,1 35,6 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 9,4 21,9 28,1 37,5 100,0 1,7 13,6 22,0 27,1 35,6 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 12,5 34,4 62,5 100,0 1,7 15,3 37,3 64,4 100,0
Grammar: verbs and subjects total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
2 3 4 5 Total 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 6 12 7 7 32 2 1 2 19 26 9 59
Percent 18,8 37,5 21,9 21,9 100,0 3,4 1,7 3,4 32,2 44,1 15,3 100,0
11
Valid Percent 18,8 37,5 21,9 21,9 100,0 3,4 1,7 3,4 32,2 44,1 15,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 18,8 56,3 78,1 100,0 3,4 5,1 8,5 40,7 84,7 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar: the right tense total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
1 2 3 4 5 Total 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 1 1 5 6 19 32 1 1 4 5 12 36 59
Percent 3,1 3,1 15,6 18,8 59,4 100,0 1,7 1,7 6,8 8,5 20,3 61,0 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 3,1 15,6 18,8 59,4 100,0 1,7 1,7 6,8 8,5 20,3 61,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 6,3 21,9 40,6 100,0 1,7 3,4 10,2 18,6 39,0 100,0
Understanding words total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Frequency 1 3 5 10 6 2 5 32 7 2 5 9 10 11 9 6 59
Percent 3,1 9,4 15,6 31,3 18,8 6,3 15,6 100,0 11,9 3,4 8,5 15,3 16,9 18,6 15,3 10,2 100,0
12
Valid Percent 3,1 9,4 15,6 31,3 18,8 6,3 15,6 100,0 11,9 3,4 8,5 15,3 16,9 18,6 15,3 10,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 12,5 28,1 59,4 78,1 84,4 100,0 11,9 15,3 23,7 39,0 55,9 74,6 89,8 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar exercise: find the right verb total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
Frequency 4 3 6 4 2 8 4 1 32 6 1 4 10 12 11 8 4 3 59
Percent 12,5 9,4 18,8 12,5 6,3 25,0 12,5 3,1 100,0 10,2 1,7 6,8 16,9 20,3 18,6 13,6 6,8 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 12,5 9,4 18,8 12,5 6,3 25,0 12,5 3,1 100,0 10,2 1,7 6,8 16,9 20,3 18,6 13,6 6,8 5,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 12,5 21,9 40,6 53,1 59,4 84,4 96,9 100,0 10,2 11,9 18,6 35,6 55,9 74,6 88,1 94,9 100,0
Grammar exercise: personal pronouns total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
Frequency 1 2 3 3 2 12 9 32 1 1 6 2 9 24 16 59
Percent 3,1 6,3 9,4 9,4 6,3 37,5 28,1 100,0 1,7 1,7 10,2 3,4 15,3 40,7 27,1 100,0
13
Valid Percent 3,1 6,3 9,4 9,4 6,3 37,5 28,1 100,0 1,7 1,7 10,2 3,4 15,3 40,7 27,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 9,4 18,8 28,1 34,4 71,9 100,0 1,7 3,4 13,6 16,9 32,2 72,9 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Grammar exercise: find the right tense total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 2 1 3 5 8 13 32 2 4 6 25 22 59
Percent 6,3 3,1 9,4 15,6 25,0 40,6 100,0 3,4 6,8 10,2 42,4 37,3 100,0
Valid Percent 6,3 3,1 9,4 15,6 25,0 40,6 100,0 3,4 6,8 10,2 42,4 37,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 6,3 9,4 18,8 34,4 59,4 100,0 3,4 10,2 20,3 62,7 100,0
Find the right word total L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 2 3 4 5 Total 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 1 3 3 12 13 32 1 1 5 14 38 59
Percent 3,1 9,4 9,4 37,5 40,6 100,0 1,7 1,7 8,5 23,7 64,4 100,0
14
Valid Percent 3,1 9,4 9,4 37,5 40,6 100,0 1,7 1,7 8,5 23,7 64,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 12,5 21,9 59,4 100,0 1,7 3,4 11,9 35,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Metalinguistic tasks Statistics Metalinguistic score L3 learners N
L2 learners
Mean N
Valid Missing Valid Missing
Mean
32 0 10,63 59 0 10,66
Metalinguistic score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total 2 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total
Frequency 2 1 7 5 5 4 6 2 32 1 1 2 1 4 5 8 15 9 9 4 59
Percent 6,3 3,1 21,9 15,6 15,6 12,5 18,8 6,3 100,0 1,7 1,7 3,4 1,7 6,8 8,5 13,6 25,4 15,3 15,3 6,8 100,0
15
Valid Percent 6,3 3,1 21,9 15,6 15,6 12,5 18,8 6,3 100,0 1,7 1,7 3,4 1,7 6,8 8,5 13,6 25,4 15,3 15,3 6,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 6,3 9,4 31,3 46,9 62,5 75,0 93,8 100,0 1,7 3,4 6,8 8,5 15,3 23,7 37,3 62,7 78,0 93,2 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk test results Overall test score Statistics Overall score N Valid Missing Mean
96 0 27,99
Overall score
Valid
6 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 Total
Frequency 1 1 2 5 2 2 3 6 1 1 1 4 3 4 2 3 4 4 6 2 6 2 1 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 1 96
Percent 1,0 1,0 2,1 5,2 2,1 2,1 3,1 6,3 1,0 1,0 1,0 4,2 3,1 4,2 2,1 3,1 4,2 4,2 6,3 2,1 6,3 2,1 1,0 2,1 2,1 3,1 3,1 2,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 1,0 1,0 1,0 2,1 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 1,0 1,0 2,1 5,2 2,1 2,1 3,1 6,3 1,0 1,0 1,0 4,2 3,1 4,2 2,1 3,1 4,2 4,2 6,3 2,1 6,3 2,1 1,0 2,1 2,1 3,1 3,1 2,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1 1,0 1,0 1,0 2,1 1,0 100,0
16
Cumulative Percent 1,0 2,1 4,2 9,4 11,5 13,5 16,7 22,9 24,0 25,0 26,0 30,2 33,3 37,5 39,6 42,7 46,9 51,0 57,3 59,4 65,6 67,7 68,8 70,8 72,9 76,0 79,2 81,3 84,4 87,5 90,6 93,8 94,8 95,8 96,9 99,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test assessment Test assessment
Valid
Missing Total
Very easy Easy Neither easy nor difficult Difficult Very difficult Total No response
Frequency 3 12 38 24 13 90 6 96
Percent 3,1 12,5 39,6 25,0 13,5 93,8 6,3 100,0
Valid Percent 3,3 13,3 42,2 26,7 14,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,3 16,7 58,9 85,6 100,0
Tasks Statistics
N Mean
Valid Missing
Scanning total 96 0 2,23
Skimming total 96 0 2,25
Grammar: making sentences total 96 0 1,96
Grammar: verbs and subjects total 96 0 2,49
Grammar: the right tense total 96 0 2,96
17
Understandin g words total 96 0 2,94
Grammar exercise: find the right verb total 96 0 4,52
Grammar exercise: personal pronouns total 96 0 3,03
Grammar exercise: find the right tense total 96 0 2,39
Find the right word total 96 0 3,35
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Scanning total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 12 23 22 16 16 7 96
Percent 12,5 24,0 22,9 16,7 16,7 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 12,5 24,0 22,9 16,7 16,7 7,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 12,5 36,5 59,4 76,0 92,7 100,0
Skimming total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 13 18 20 25 17 3 96
Percent 13,5 18,8 20,8 26,0 17,7 3,1 100,0
Valid Percent 13,5 18,8 20,8 26,0 17,7 3,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 13,5 32,3 53,1 79,2 96,9 100,0
Grammar: making sentences total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 Total
Frequency 15 21 24 25 11 96
Percent 15,6 21,9 25,0 26,0 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 15,6 21,9 25,0 26,0 11,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 15,6 37,5 62,5 88,5 100,0
18
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Grammar: verbs and subjects total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 11 14 23 20 21 7 96
Percent 11,5 14,6 24,0 20,8 21,9 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 11,5 14,6 24,0 20,8 21,9 7,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 11,5 26,0 50,0 70,8 92,7 100,0
Grammar: the right tense total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 11 15 12 18 9 31 96
Percent 11,5 15,6 12,5 18,8 9,4 32,3 100,0
Valid Percent 11,5 15,6 12,5 18,8 9,4 32,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 11,5 27,1 39,6 58,3 67,7 100,0
19
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Understanding words total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 Total
Frequency 9 14 18 19 19 9 4 3 1 96
Percent 9,4 14,6 18,8 19,8 19,8 9,4 4,2 3,1 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 9,4 14,6 18,8 19,8 19,8 9,4 4,2 3,1 1,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 9,4 24,0 42,7 62,5 82,3 91,7 95,8 99,0 100,0
Grammar exercise: find the right verb total
Valid
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
Frequency 17 1 9 14 14 18 15 6 2 96
Percent 17,7 1,0 9,4 14,6 14,6 18,8 15,6 6,3 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 17,7 1,0 9,4 14,6 14,6 18,8 15,6 6,3 2,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 17,7 18,8 28,1 42,7 57,3 76,0 91,7 97,9 100,0
20
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Grammar exercise: personal pronouns total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
Frequency 12 13 14 13 20 13 11 96
Percent 12,5 13,5 14,6 13,5 20,8 13,5 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 12,5 13,5 14,6 13,5 20,8 13,5 11,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 12,5 26,0 40,6 54,2 75,0 88,5 100,0
Grammar exercise: find the right tense total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 10 18 23 22 16 7 96
Percent 10,4 18,8 24,0 22,9 16,7 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 10,4 18,8 24,0 22,9 16,7 7,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 10,4 29,2 53,1 76,0 92,7 100,0
Find the right word total
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 2 11 16 17 22 28 96
Percent 2,1 11,5 16,7 17,7 22,9 29,2 100,0
Valid Percent 2,1 11,5 16,7 17,7 22,9 29,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 2,1 13,5 30,2 47,9 70,8 100,0
21
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
22
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Metalinguistic tasks Statistics Metalinguistic score N Valid Missing Mean
96 0 7,41
Metalinguistic score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total
Frequency 2 4 3 7 7 8 10 8 5 13 8 5 6 8 2 96
Percent 2,1 4,2 3,1 7,3 7,3 8,3 10,4 8,3 5,2 13,5 8,3 5,2 6,3 8,3 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 2,1 4,2 3,1 7,3 7,3 8,3 10,4 8,3 5,2 13,5 8,3 5,2 6,3 8,3 2,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 2,1 6,3 9,4 16,7 24,0 32,3 42,7 51,0 56,3 69,8 78,1 83,3 89,6 97,9 100,0
23
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English literacy skills in relation to overall test score Univariate Copenhagen: English writing skills L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Total
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Invalid Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Invalid I don't know Total
Frequency 5 10 13 2 30 2 32 7 19 24 6 56 2 1 3 59
Percent 15,6 31,3 40,6 6,3 93,8 6,3 100,0 11,9 32,2 40,7 10,2 94,9 3,4 1,7 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 16,7 33,3 43,3 6,7 100,0
12,5 33,9 42,9 10,7 100,0
24
Cumulative Percent 16,7 50,0 93,3 100,0
12,5 46,4 89,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English reading skills L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Invalid Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know
Frequency 8 15 5 2 30 2 32 12 28 16 2 58 1 59
Percent 25,0 46,9 15,6 6,3 93,8 6,3 100,0 20,3 47,5 27,1 3,4 98,3 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 26,7 50,0 16,7 6,7 100,0
20,7 48,3 27,6 3,4 100,0
25
Cumulative Percent 26,7 76,7 93,3 100,0
20,7 69,0 96,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: English writing skills
Valid
Missing
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid Total
Total
Frequency 2 16 46 23 87 7 2 9 96
Percent 2,1 16,7 47,9 24,0 90,6 7,3 2,1 9,4 100,0
Valid Percent 2,3 18,4 52,9 26,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 2,3 20,7 73,6 100,0
English reading skills
Valid
Missing
Total
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid Total
Frequency 4 27 47 11 89 4 3 7 96
Percent 4,2 28,1 49,0 11,5 92,7 4,2 3,1 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 4,5 30,3 52,8 12,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 4,5 34,8 87,6 100,0
26
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Writing skills
overall test score Descriptives
Overall test score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 5 10 13 2 30 7 19 24 6 56
Mean 42,00 45,20 36,00 22,00 39,13 45,00 44,68 41,29 28,17 41,50
Std. Deviation 5,612 3,706 4,761 4,243 7,574 3,742 5,260 8,137 9,908 8,466
Std. Error 2,510 1,172 1,320 3,000 1,383 1,414 1,207 1,661 4,045 1,131
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,572 1,208
df1
df2 3 3
26 52
Sig. ,639 ,316
27
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 35,03 48,97 42,55 47,85 33,12 38,88 -16,12 60,12 36,31 41,96 41,54 48,46 42,15 47,22 37,86 44,73 17,77 38,56 39,23 43,77
Minimum 36 41 26 19 19 39 35 21 15 15
Maximum 50 52 44 25 52 50 52 54 44 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1123,867 539,600 1663,467 1346,103 2595,897 3942,000
df 3 26 29 3 52 55
Mean Square 374,622 20,754
F 18,051
Sig. ,000
448,701 49,921
8,988
,000
28
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English writing skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
L2 learners
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English writing skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) -3,200 6,000* 20,000* 3,200 9,200* 23,200* -6,000* -9,200* 14,000* -20,000* -23,200* -14,000* ,316 3,708 16,833* -,316 3,393 16,518* -3,708 -3,393 13,125* -16,833* -16,518* -13,125*
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
29
Std. Error 2,495 2,397 3,812 2,495 1,916 3,529 2,397 1,916 3,460 3,812 3,529 3,460 3,124 3,035 3,931 3,124 2,170 3,309 3,035 2,170 3,225 3,931 3,309 3,225
Sig. ,211 ,019 ,000 ,211 ,000 ,000 ,019 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,920 ,227 ,000 ,920 ,124 ,000 ,227 ,124 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -8,33 1,93 1,07 10,93 12,17 27,83 -1,93 8,33 5,26 13,14 15,95 30,45 -10,93 -1,07 -13,14 -5,26 6,89 21,11 -27,83 -12,17 -30,45 -15,95 -21,11 -6,89 -5,95 6,58 -2,38 9,80 8,95 24,72 -6,58 5,95 -,96 7,75 9,88 23,16 -9,80 2,38 -7,75 ,96 6,65 19,60 -24,72 -8,95 -23,16 -9,88 -19,60 -6,65
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English writing skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
L2 learners
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English writing skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) -3,200 6,000 20,000* 3,200 9,200* 23,200* -6,000 -9,200* 14,000* -20,000* -23,200* -14,000* ,316 3,708 16,833* -,316 3,393 16,518* -3,708 -3,393 13,125* -16,833* -16,518* -13,125*
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
30
Std. Error 2,495 2,397 3,812 2,495 1,916 3,529 2,397 1,916 3,460 3,812 3,529 3,460 3,124 3,035 3,931 3,124 2,170 3,309 3,035 2,170 3,225 3,931 3,309 3,225
Sig. 1,000 ,114 ,000 1,000 ,000 ,000 ,114 ,000 ,002 ,000 ,000 ,002 1,000 1,000 ,000 1,000 ,744 ,000 1,000 ,744 ,001 ,000 ,000 ,001
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -10,33 3,93 -,85 12,85 9,12 30,88 -3,93 10,33 3,73 14,67 13,12 33,28 -12,85 ,85 -14,67 -3,73 4,12 23,88 -30,88 -9,12 -33,28 -13,12 -23,88 -4,12 -8,25 8,88 -4,62 12,03 6,05 27,62 -8,88 8,25 -2,56 9,34 7,44 25,59 -12,03 4,62 -9,34 2,56 4,28 21,97 -27,62 -6,05 -25,59 -7,44 -21,97 -4,28
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Reading skills
overall test score Descriptives
Overall test score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 8 15 5 2 30 12 28 16 2 58
Mean 42,25 41,00 35,40 22,00 39,13 45,75 43,25 37,44 18,50 41,31
Std. Deviation 4,559 7,020 2,408 4,243 7,574 4,712 7,085 7,668 4,950 8,510
Std. Error 1,612 1,813 1,077 3,000 1,383 1,360 1,339 1,917 3,500 1,117
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,137 ,633
df1
df2 3 3
26 54
Sig. ,353 ,597
31
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 38,44 46,06 37,11 44,89 32,41 38,39 -16,12 60,12 36,31 41,96 42,76 48,74 40,50 46,00 33,35 41,52 -25,97 62,97 39,07 43,55
Minimum 36 26 33 19 19 36 21 23 15 15
Maximum 50 52 38 25 52 51 54 51 22 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 786,767 876,700 1663,467 1622,476 2505,938 4128,414
df 3 26 29 3 54 57
Mean Square 262,256 33,719
F 7,778
Sig. ,001
540,825 46,406
11,654
,000
32
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English reading skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
L2 learners
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English reading skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 1,250 6,850* 20,250* -1,250 5,600 19,000* -6,850* -5,600 13,400* -20,250* -19,000* -13,400* 2,500 8,313* 27,250* -2,500 5,813* 24,750* -8,313* -5,813* 18,938* -27,250* -24,750* -18,938*
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
33
Std. Error 2,542 3,310 4,591 2,542 2,999 4,371 3,310 2,999 4,858 4,591 4,371 4,858 2,350 2,601 5,203 2,350 2,135 4,986 2,601 2,135 5,109 5,203 4,986 5,109
Sig. ,627 ,049 ,000 ,627 ,073 ,000 ,049 ,073 ,010 ,000 ,000 ,010 ,292 ,002 ,000 ,292 ,009 ,000 ,002 ,009 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -3,98 6,48 ,05 13,65 10,81 29,69 -6,48 3,98 -,56 11,76 10,01 27,99 -13,65 -,05 -11,76 ,56 3,41 23,39 -29,69 -10,81 -27,99 -10,01 -23,39 -3,41 -2,21 7,21 3,10 13,53 16,82 37,68 -7,21 2,21 1,53 10,09 14,75 34,75 -13,53 -3,10 -10,09 -1,53 8,69 29,18 -37,68 -16,82 -34,75 -14,75 -29,18 -8,69
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English reading skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
L2 learners
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English reading skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 1,250 6,850 20,250* -1,250 5,600 19,000* -6,850 -5,600 13,400 -20,250* -19,000* -13,400 2,500 8,313* 27,250* -2,500 5,813 24,750* -8,313* -5,813 18,938* -27,250* -24,750* -18,938*
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
34
Std. Error 2,542 3,310 4,591 2,542 2,999 4,371 3,310 2,999 4,858 4,591 4,371 4,858 2,350 2,601 5,203 2,350 2,135 4,986 2,601 2,135 5,109 5,203 4,986 5,109
Sig. 1,000 ,292 ,001 1,000 ,439 ,001 ,292 ,439 ,063 ,001 ,001 ,063 1,000 ,014 ,000 1,000 ,052 ,000 ,014 ,052 ,003 ,000 ,000 ,003
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -6,01 8,51 -2,60 16,30 7,14 33,36 -8,51 6,01 -2,96 14,16 6,52 31,48 -16,30 2,60 -14,16 2,96 -,47 27,27 -33,36 -7,14 -31,48 -6,52 -27,27 ,47 -3,94 8,94 1,19 15,44 13,00 41,50 -8,94 3,94 -,03 11,66 11,09 38,41 -15,44 -1,19 -11,66 ,03 4,94 32,93 -41,50 -13,00 -38,41 -11,09 -32,93 -4,94
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Writing skills
overall test score
Descriptives Overall test score
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 2 16 46 23 87
Mean 36,00 33,63 28,33 24,00 28,33
Std. Deviation 15,556 11,494 10,997 10,140 11,271
Std. Error 11,000 2,874 1,621 2,114 1,208
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound -103,77 175,77 27,50 39,75 25,06 31,59 19,62 28,38 25,93 30,74
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic ,276
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,843
83
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 997,475 9927,859 10925,333
df 3 83 86
Mean Square 332,492 119,613
35
F 2,780
Sig. ,046
Minimum 25 10 10 9 9
Maximum 47 48 50 46 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
LSD
(I) English writing skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
Bonferroni
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English writing skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 2,375 7,674 12,000 -2,375 5,299 9,625* -7,674 -5,299 4,326 -12,000 -9,625* -4,326 2,375 7,674 12,000 -2,375 5,299 9,625* -7,674 -5,299 4,326 -12,000 -9,625* -4,326
Std. Error 8,203 7,900 8,063 8,203 3,174 3,560 7,900 3,174 2,793 8,063 3,560 2,793 8,203 7,900 8,063 8,203 3,174 3,560 7,900 3,174 2,793 8,063 3,560 2,793
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
36
Sig. ,773 ,334 ,140 ,773 ,099 ,008 ,334 ,099 ,125 ,140 ,008 ,125 1,000 1,000 ,843 1,000 ,593 ,050 1,000 ,593 ,751 ,843 ,050 ,751
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -13,94 18,69 -8,04 23,39 -4,04 28,04 -18,69 13,94 -1,01 11,61 2,54 16,71 -23,39 8,04 -11,61 1,01 -1,23 9,88 -28,04 4,04 -16,71 -2,54 -9,88 1,23 -19,80 24,55 -13,68 29,03 -9,79 33,79 -24,55 19,80 -3,28 13,88 ,00 19,25 -29,03 13,68 -13,88 3,28 -3,22 11,88 -33,79 9,79 -19,25 ,00 -11,88 3,22
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Reading skills
overall test score Descriptives
Overall test score
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 4 27 47 11 89
Mean 36,50 34,63 26,49 19,27 28,52
Std. Deviation 8,226 10,860 10,498 7,643 11,342
Std. Error 4,113 2,090 1,531 2,305 1,202
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 23,41 49,59 30,33 38,93 23,41 29,57 14,14 24,41 26,13 30,91
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic ,980
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,406
85
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 2397,002 8923,223 11320,225
df 3 85 88
Mean Square 799,001 104,979
37
F 7,611
Sig. ,000
Minimum 29 10 9 6 6
Maximum 47 50 48 31 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
LSD
(I) English reading skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
Bonferroni
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) English reading skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 1,870 10,011 17,227* -1,870 8,140* 15,357* -10,011 -8,140* 7,217* -17,227* -15,357* -7,217* 1,870 10,011 17,227* -1,870 8,140* 15,357* -10,011 -8,140* 7,217 -17,227* -15,357* -7,217
Std. Error 5,489 5,337 5,982 5,489 2,474 3,665 5,337 2,474 3,432 5,982 3,665 3,432 5,489 5,337 5,982 5,489 2,474 3,665 5,337 2,474 3,432 5,982 3,665 3,432
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
38
Sig. ,734 ,064 ,005 ,734 ,001 ,000 ,064 ,001 ,038 ,005 ,000 ,038 1,000 ,385 ,030 1,000 ,009 ,000 ,385 ,009 ,231 ,030 ,000 ,231
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -9,04 12,78 -,60 20,62 5,33 29,12 -12,78 9,04 3,22 13,06 8,07 22,64 -20,62 ,60 -13,06 -3,22 ,39 14,04 -29,12 -5,33 -22,64 -8,07 -14,04 -,39 -12,96 16,70 -4,41 24,43 1,07 33,39 -16,70 12,96 1,46 14,82 5,46 25,26 -24,43 4,41 -14,82 -1,46 -2,05 16,49 -33,39 -1,07 -25,26 -5,46 -16,49 2,05
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Socio-economic background Mother’s level of education overall score Univariate Copenhagen: Statistics Mother's level of education L3 learners N Valid Missing Mean L2 learners N Valid Missing Mean
27 5 1,89 55 4 3,00 Mother's level of education
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Basic education High school/college Higher vocational training University Total No response Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total No response
Nuuk: Statistics Mother's level of education N Valid 74 Missing 22 Mean 2,64
39
Frequency 16 5 5 1 27 5 32 16 8 2 18 11 55 4 59
Percent 50,0 15,6 15,6 3,1 84,4 15,6 100,0 27,1 13,6 3,4 30,5 18,6 93,2 6,8 100,0
Valid Percent 59,3 18,5 18,5 3,7 100,0
29,1 14,5 3,6 32,7 20,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 59,3 77,8 96,3 100,0
29,1 43,6 47,3 80,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Mother's level of education
Valid
Missing Total
Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total No response
Frequency 18 17 14 24 1 74 22 96
Percent 18,8 17,7 14,6 25,0 1,0 77,1 22,9 100,0
Valid Percent 24,3 23,0 18,9 32,4 1,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 24,3 47,3 66,2 98,6 100,0
Bivariate Copenhagen: Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,654 1,971
df1
df2 2 4
Sig. ,213 ,113
23 50 ANOVA
Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 310,635 1246,550 1557,185 334,760 3294,040 3628,800
df 3 23 26 4 50 54
Nuuk: Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,075
df1
df2 3
69
Sig. ,973
40
Mean Square 103,545 54,198
F 1,911
Sig. ,156
83,690 65,881
1,270
,294
When WordsDon’t Come Easy ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 955,620 8028,285 8983,905
Father’s level of education Univariate
df 4 69 73
Mean Square 238,905 116,352
F 2,053
Sig. ,096
overall score
Copenhagen: Statistics Father's level of education L3 learners N
L2 learners
Mean N Mean
Valid Missing Valid Missing
26 6 2,42 54 5 2,81
Father's level of education L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total No response Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total No response
41
Frequency 12 4 3 1 6 26 6 32 15 9 10 11 9 54 5 59
Percent 37,5 12,5 9,4 3,1 18,8 81,3 18,8 100,0 25,4 15,3 16,9 18,6 15,3 91,5 8,5 100,0
Valid Percent 46,2 15,4 11,5 3,8 23,1 100,0
27,8 16,7 18,5 20,4 16,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 46,2 61,5 73,1 76,9 100,0
27,8 44,4 63,0 83,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Statistics Father's level of education N Valid 68 Missing 28 Mean 2,81
Father's level of education
Valid
Missing Total
Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total No response
Frequency 14 7 30 12 5 68 28 96
Percent 14,6 7,3 31,3 12,5 5,2 70,8 29,2 100,0
42
Valid Percent 20,6 10,3 44,1 17,6 7,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 20,6 30,9 75,0 92,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
N
Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total Basic education High school/college Vocational training Higher vocational training University Total
12 4 3 1 6 26 15 9 10 11 9 54
Mean 34,58 42,00 44,33 25,00 41,17 38,00 35,53 42,56 43,50 46,18 45,56 42,02
Std. Deviation 7,775 4,243 5,774 . 5,845 7,772 9,665 5,341 6,570 7,222 3,644 8,139
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases. Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,770 2,799
df1
df2 3 4
21 49
Sig. ,524 ,036
43
Std. Error 2,244 2,121 3,333 . 2,386 1,524 2,495 1,780 2,078 2,178 1,215 1,108
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 29,64 39,52 35,25 48,75 29,99 58,68 . . 35,03 47,30 34,86 41,14 30,18 40,89 38,45 46,66 38,80 48,20 41,33 51,03 42,75 48,36 39,80 44,24
Minimum 19 36 41 25 33 19 15 31 35 29 41 15
Maximum 46 45 51 25 50 51 45 49 52 54 50 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Sum of Squares 553,583 956,417 1510,000 958,667 2552,314 3510,981
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
L2 learners
df 4 21 25 4 49 53
Mean Square 138,396 45,544
F 3,039
Sig. ,040
239,667 52,088
4,601
,003
Nuuk: Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,567
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,687
63
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 459,210 7665,790 8125,000
df 4 63 67
Get help in relation to want/need help
Mean Square 114,802 121,679
F ,943
Sig. ,445
overall test score
Univariate Copenhagen: Get help in relation to want/need help with homework L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
-1 0 1 2 Total -2 -1 0 1 Total
Frequency 3 21 6 2 32 1 10 41 7 59
Percent 9,4 65,6 18,8 6,3 100,0 1,7 16,9 69,5 11,9 100,0
44
Valid Percent 9,4 65,6 18,8 6,3 100,0 1,7 16,9 69,5 11,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 9,4 75,0 93,8 100,0 1,7 18,6 88,1 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Get help in relation to want/need help with homework L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Valid
Get less help than wanted/needed Get help wanted/needed Total Get less help than wanted/needed Get help wanted/needed Total
Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
3
9,4
9,4
9,4
29 32
90,6 100,0
90,6 100,0
100,0
11
18,6
18,6
18,6
48 59
81,4 100,0
81,4 100,0
100,0
Nuuk: Get help in relation to want/need help with homework
Valid
Missing Total
-2 -1 0 1 Total irrelevant
Frequency 1 15 61 18 95 1 96
Percent 1,0 15,6 63,5 18,8 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 1,1 15,8 64,2 18,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 1,1 16,8 81,1 100,0
Get help in relation to want/need help with homework
Valid
Missing Total
Get less help than wanted/needed Get help wanted/needed Total irrelevant
Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
16
16,7
16,8
16,8
79 95 1 96
82,3 99,0 1,0 100,0
83,2 100,0
100,0
45
Cumulative Percent
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Overall score Overall score
Get help in relation to want/need help with 1 homework
N 3 29 11 48
2 1 2
Mean 42,33 38,59 42,73 40,77
Std. Error Mean 1,333 1,460 1,982 1,292
Std. Deviation 2,309 7,863 6,574 8,952
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F 2,083
1,810
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
t
,159
,184
46
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
,811
30
,424
3,747
4,621
-5,690
13,185
1,895
8,772
,091
3,747
1,977
-,744
8,238
,682
57
,498
1,956
2,869
-3,789
7,701
,827
19,553
,418
1,956
2,366
-2,986
6,899
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall score
Get help in relation to want/need help with 1 homework
N 16 79
2
Mean 26,94 28,41
Std. Error Mean 2,588 1,287
Std. Deviation 10,350 11,443
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,276
Sig. ,600
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-,475
93
,636
-1,468
3,091
-7,605
4,670
-,508
23,073
,616
-1,468
2,890
-7,445
4,510
47
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis A: Interdependence _____________________________________________________________________________________ Sub-hypothesis A.1: L1 education univariate Copenhagen: Statistics Years of education in L1 N Valid 19 Missing 13 Mean 5,237 Years of education in L1
Valid
Missing
1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 6,0 9,0 10,0 Total Irrelevant No response Total
Total
Frequency 1 1 1 4 1 4 1 4 2 19 8 5 13 32
Percent 3,1 3,1 3,1 12,5 3,1 12,5 3,1 12,5 6,3 59,4 25,0 15,6 40,6 100,0
Valid Percent 5,3 5,3 5,3 21,1 5,3 21,1 5,3 21,1 10,5 100,0
Nuuk: Statistics Years of education in L1 N Valid 85 Missing 11 Mean 9,547
48
Cumulative Percent 5,3 10,5 15,8 36,8 42,1 63,2 68,4 89,5 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Years of education in L1
Valid
Missing
2,0 3,0 5,0 7,0 8,0 8,5 9,0 10,0 Total Invalid No response Total
Total
Frequency 1 2 1 1 1 1 5 73 85 1 10 11 96
Percent 1,0 2,1 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 5,2 76,0 88,5 1,0 10,4 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 1,2 2,4 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 5,9 85,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 1,2 3,5 4,7 5,9 7,1 8,2 14,1 100,0
bivariate Copenhagen:
Correlations
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Years of education in L1
Overall score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
49
Years of education in L1 1 19 ,010 ,968 19
Overall score ,010 ,968 19 1 32
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis A.2: Active versus passive use of L1 Univariate Copenhagen (L3 learners only): Speak L1 with mother
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 29 3 32
Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0
Valid Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 90,6 100,0
Speak L1 with father
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 28 4 32
Percent 87,5 12,5 100,0
Valid Percent 87,5 12,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 87,5 100,0
Speak L1 with siblings
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 17 15 32
Percent 53,1 46,9 100,0
Valid Percent 53,1 46,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 53,1 100,0
Speak L1 with friends
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 11 21 32
Percent 34,4 65,6 100,0
Valid Percent 34,4 65,6 100,0
Cumulative Percent 34,4 100,0
Think in L1 at home
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 21 11 32
Percent 65,6 34,4 100,0
Valid Percent 65,6 34,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 65,6 100,0
Think in L1 when with friends
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 10 22 32
Percent 31,3 68,8 100,0
Valid Percent 31,3 68,8 100,0
50
Cumulative Percent 31,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Think in L1 at school
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 8 24 32
Percent 25,0 75,0 100,0
Valid Percent 25,0 75,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 25,0 100,0
Think in L1 outside home and school
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 6 26 32
Percent 18,8 81,3 100,0
Valid Percent 18,8 81,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 18,8 100,0
Think in L1 when counting/doing maths
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 6 26 32
Percent 18,8 81,3 100,0
Valid Percent 18,8 81,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 18,8 100,0
Speak L1 score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 Total
Frequency 1 1 12 12 6 32
Percent 3,1 3,1 37,5 37,5 18,8 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 3,1 37,5 37,5 18,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 3,1 6,3 43,8 81,3 100,0
Think L1 score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 10 11 3 2 2 4 32
Percent 31,3 34,4 9,4 6,3 6,3 12,5 100,0
Valid Percent 31,3 34,4 9,4 6,3 6,3 12,5 100,0
51
Cumulative Percent 31,3 65,6 75,0 81,3 87,5 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Speak L1 with mother
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 92 4 96
Percent 95,8 4,2 100,0
Valid Percent 95,8 4,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 95,8 100,0
Speak L1 with father
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 76 20 96
Percent 79,2 20,8 100,0
Valid Percent 79,2 20,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 79,2 100,0
Speak L1 with siblings
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 86 10 96
Percent 89,6 10,4 100,0
Valid Percent 89,6 10,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 89,6 100,0
Speak L1 with friends
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 92 4 96
Percent 95,8 4,2 100,0
Valid Percent 95,8 4,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 95,8 100,0
Think in L1 at home
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 85 11 96
Percent 88,5 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 88,5 11,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 88,5 100,0
Think in L1 when with friends
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 84 12 96
Percent 87,5 12,5 100,0
Valid Percent 87,5 12,5 100,0
52
Cumulative Percent 87,5 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Think in L1 at school
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 89 7 96
Percent 92,7 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 92,7 7,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 92,7 100,0
Think in L1 outside home and school
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 87 9 96
Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0
Valid Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 90,6 100,0
Think in L1 when counting/doing maths
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 60 36 96
Percent 62,5 37,5 100,0
Valid Percent 62,5 37,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 62,5 100,0
Speak L1 score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 Total
Frequency 1 2 4 20 69 96
Percent 1,0 2,1 4,2 20,8 71,9 100,0
Valid Percent 1,0 2,1 4,2 20,8 71,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 1,0 3,1 7,3 28,1 100,0
Think L1 score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 3 3 2 6 30 52 96
Percent 3,1 3,1 2,1 6,3 31,3 54,2 100,0
Valid Percent 3,1 3,1 2,1 6,3 31,3 54,2 100,0
53
Cumulative Percent 3,1 6,3 8,3 14,6 45,8 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
bivariate Copenhagen (L3 learners only): Correlations
Speak L1 score
Think L1 score
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N
Speak L1 score 1 32 ,391* ,013 32 -,089 ,313 32
Think L1 score ,391* ,013 32 1 32 -,076 ,339 32
Overall test score -,089 ,313 32 -,076 ,339 32 1 32
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (1-tailed).
Nuuk: Correlations
Speak L1 score
Think L1 score
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Speak L1 score 1
Think L1 Overall score test score ,512** ,014 ,000 ,891 96 96 96 ,512** 1 -,147 ,000 ,153 96 96 96 ,014 -,147 1 ,891 ,153 96 96 96
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis A.3: Literacy skills A.3.1: L1 literacy skills
level of English proficiency
Univariate Copenhagen: L1 writing skills L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
Frequency 3 9 14 4 30 2 32 27 23 8 1 59
Percent 9,4 28,1 43,8 12,5 93,8 6,3 100,0 45,8 39,0 13,6 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 10,0 30,0 46,7 13,3 100,0
45,8 39,0 13,6 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 10,0 40,0 86,7 100,0
45,8 84,7 98,3 100,0
L1 reading skills L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
Frequency 9 10 10 3 32 37 19 2 1 59
Percent 28,1 31,3 31,3 9,4 100,0 62,7 32,2 3,4 1,7 100,0
55
Valid Percent 28,1 31,3 31,3 9,4 100,0 62,7 32,2 3,4 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 28,1 59,4 90,6 100,0 62,7 94,9 98,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: L1 writing skills
Valid
Missing
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid Total
Total
Frequency 22 37 29 2 90 4 2 6 96
Percent 22,9 38,5 30,2 2,1 93,8 4,2 2,1 6,3 100,0
Valid Percent 24,4 41,1 32,2 2,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 24,4 65,6 97,8 100,0
L1 reading skills
Valid
Missing
Total
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid No response Total
Frequency 17 39 31 4 91 2 2 1 5 96
Percent 17,7 40,6 32,3 4,2 94,8 2,1 2,1 1,0 5,2 100,0
Valid Percent 18,7 42,9 34,1 4,4 100,0
56
Cumulative Percent 18,7 61,5 95,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
bivariate Copenhagen: L1 writing skills
overall test score Descriptives
Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 3 9 14 4 30 27 23 8 1 59
Mean 45,67 37,00 37,21 43,50 38,83 43,85 40,43 37,25 15,00 41,14
Std. Deviation 4,509 8,944 7,224 6,028 7,795 6,775 8,322 8,464 . 8,543
Std. Error 2,603 2,981 1,931 3,014 1,423 1,304 1,735 2,993 . 1,112
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 34,47 56,87 30,12 43,88 33,04 41,39 33,91 53,09 35,92 41,74 41,17 46,53 36,84 44,03 30,17 44,33 . . 38,91 43,36
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,941 ,748
df1
df2 3 2
26 55
Sig. ,435 ,478
57
Minimum 41 19 25 38 19 26 21 22 15 15
Maximum 50 45 51 52 52 54 51 47 15 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
L1 reading skills
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 294,143 1468,024 1762,167 1014,356 3218,560 4232,915
df 3 26 29 3 55 58
Mean Square 98,048 56,462
F 1,737
Sig. ,184
338,119 58,519
5,778
,002
overall test score Descriptives
Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N 9 10 10 3 32 37 19 2 1 59
Mean 43,44 36,10 36,10 44,33 38,94 43,92 38,63 26,50 15,00 41,14
Std. Deviation 3,877 7,852 7,978 7,095 7,577 6,534 7,953 6,364 . 8,543
Std. Error 1,292 2,483 2,523 4,096 1,339 1,074 1,824 4,500 . 1,112
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 40,46 46,42 30,48 41,72 30,39 41,81 26,71 61,96 36,21 41,67 41,74 46,10 34,80 42,46 -30,68 83,68 . . 38,91 43,36
58
Minimum 36 19 25 38 19 26 21 22 15 15
Maximum 50 45 51 52 52 54 51 31 15 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,189 ,655
df1
df2 3 2
Sig. ,332 ,523
28 55
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 431,186 1348,689 1779,875 1517,237 2715,678 4232,915
df 3 28 31 3 55 58
59
Mean Square 143,729 48,167
F 2,984
Sig. ,048
505,746 49,376
10,243
,000
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
LSD
(I) L1 reading skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
Bonferroni
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) L1 reading skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 7,344* 7,344* -,889 -7,344* ,000 -8,233 -7,344* ,000 -8,233 ,889 8,233 8,233 7,344 7,344 -,889 -7,344 ,000 -8,233 -7,344 ,000 -8,233 ,889 8,233 8,233
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
60
Std. Error 3,189 3,189 4,627 3,189 3,104 4,569 3,189 3,104 4,569 4,627 4,569 4,569 3,189 3,189 4,627 3,189 3,104 4,569 3,189 3,104 4,569 4,627 4,569 4,569
Sig. ,029 ,029 ,849 ,029 1,000 ,082 ,029 1,000 ,082 ,849 ,082 ,082 ,173 ,173 1,000 ,173 1,000 ,494 ,173 1,000 ,494 1,000 ,494 ,494
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound ,81 13,88 ,81 13,88 -10,37 8,59 -13,88 -,81 -6,36 6,36 -17,59 1,13 -13,88 -,81 -6,36 6,36 -17,59 1,13 -8,59 10,37 -1,13 17,59 -1,13 17,59 -1,71 16,40 -1,71 16,40 -14,02 12,25 -16,40 1,71 -8,81 8,81 -21,20 4,74 -16,40 1,71 -8,81 8,81 -21,20 4,74 -12,25 14,02 -4,74 21,20 -4,74 21,20
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: L1 writing skills
overall test score
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,546
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,208
86
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 419,345 10410,310 10829,656
L1 reading skills
df 3 86 89
Mean Square 139,782 121,050
F 1,155
Sig. ,332
F ,939
Sig. ,426
overall test score
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,352
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,263
87
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 356,826 11022,712 11379,538
df 3 87 90
Mean Square 118,942 126,698
61
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
A.3.2: L2 literacy skills level of English proficiency Univariate Copenhagen (L3 learners only): L2 writing skills
Valid
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
Frequency 10 17 2 3 32
Percent 31,3 53,1 6,3 9,4 100,0
Valid Percent 31,3 53,1 6,3 9,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 31,3 84,4 90,6 100,0
L2 reading skills
Valid
Missing Total
Excellent Good Bad Total I don't know
Frequency 14 15 2 31 1 32
Percent 43,8 46,9 6,3 96,9 3,1 100,0
Valid Percent 45,2 48,4 6,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 45,2 93,5 100,0
Nuuk: L2 writing skills
Valid
Missing
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid Total
Total
Frequency 5 33 43 9 90 5 1 6 96
Percent 5,2 34,4 44,8 9,4 93,8 5,2 1,0 6,3 100,0
Valid Percent 5,6 36,7 47,8 10,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 5,6 42,2 90,0 100,0
L2 reading skills
Valid
Missing
Total
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total I don't know Invalid Total
Frequency 19 34 33 3 89 6 1 7 96
Percent 19,8 35,4 34,4 3,1 92,7 6,3 1,0 7,3 100,0
Valid Percent 21,3 38,2 37,1 3,4 100,0
62
Cumulative Percent 21,3 59,6 96,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen (L3 learners only): Writing skills overall test score Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 2,745
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,062
28
ANOVA Overall test score Sum of Squares 93,004 1686,871 1779,875
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Reading skills
df 3 28 31
Mean Square 31,001 60,245
F ,515
Sig. ,676
F 1,885
Sig. ,171
overall test score
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 9,897
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,001
28
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 210,079 1560,114 1770,194
df 2 28 30
Mean Square 105,040 55,718
63
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Writing skills
overall test score
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 2,263
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,087
86
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Reading skills
Sum of Squares 409,340 10579,060 10988,400
df 3 86 89
Mean Square 136,447 123,012
F 1,109
Sig. ,350
overall test score Descriptives
Overall test score
Excellent Good Okay Bad Total
N
Mean 35,00 26,29 26,39 25,00 28,15
19 34 33 3 89
Std. Deviation 8,340 10,630 11,557 17,692 11,191
Std. Error 1,913 1,823 2,012 10,214 1,186
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 30,98 39,02 22,59 30,00 22,30 30,49 -18,95 68,95 25,79 30,50
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 1,519
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,215
85
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1140,164 9880,938 11021,101
df 3 85 88
Mean Square 380,055 116,246
64
F 3,269
Sig. ,025
Minimum 18 9 10 6 6
Maximum 48 48 50 41 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
LSD
(I) L2 reading skills Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
Bonferroni
Excellent
Good
Okay
Bad
(J) L2 reading skills Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay Good Okay Bad Excellent Okay Bad Excellent Good Bad Excellent Good Okay
Mean Difference (I-J) 8,706* 8,606* 10,000 -8,706* -,100 1,294 -8,606* ,100 1,394 -10,000 -1,294 -1,394 8,706* 8,606* 10,000 -8,706* -,100 1,294 -8,606* ,100 1,394 -10,000 -1,294 -1,394
Std. Error 3,088 3,105 6,698 3,088 2,635 6,494 3,105 2,635 6,502 6,698 6,494 6,502 3,088 3,105 6,698 3,088 2,635 6,494 3,105 2,635 6,502 6,698 6,494 6,502
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
65
Sig. ,006 ,007 ,139 ,006 ,970 ,843 ,007 ,970 ,831 ,139 ,843 ,831 ,036 ,041 ,835 ,036 1,000 1,000 ,041 1,000 1,000 ,835 1,000 1,000
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound 2,57 14,85 2,43 14,78 -3,32 23,32 -14,85 -2,57 -5,34 5,14 -11,62 14,21 -14,78 -2,43 -5,14 5,34 -11,53 14,32 -23,32 3,32 -14,21 11,62 -14,32 11,53 ,36 17,05 ,22 16,99 -8,09 28,09 -17,05 -,36 -7,22 7,02 -16,25 18,84 -16,99 -,22 -7,02 7,22 -16,17 18,96 -28,09 8,09 -18,84 16,25 -18,96 16,17
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis A.4: Code-switching Code-switching overall score Univariate Copenhagen: Statistics Code-switching score L3 learners N
L2 learners
Valid Missing
Mean N
Valid Missing
Mean
32 0 3,75 59 0 2,51
Code-switching score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 Total
Frequency 2 4 8 8 6 2 2 32 17 3 14 5 10 6 1 2 1 59
Percent 6,3 12,5 25,0 25,0 18,8 6,3 6,3 100,0 28,8 5,1 23,7 8,5 16,9 10,2 1,7 3,4 1,7 100,0
Nuuk: Statistics Code-switching score N Valid Missing Mean
96 0 4,85
66
Valid Percent 6,3 12,5 25,0 25,0 18,8 6,3 6,3 100,0 28,8 5,1 23,7 8,5 16,9 10,2 1,7 3,4 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 6,3 18,8 43,8 68,8 87,5 93,8 100,0 28,8 33,9 57,6 66,1 83,1 93,2 94,9 98,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Code-switching score
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Frequency 5 1 16 7 14 11 16 10 10 5 1 96
Percent 5,2 1,0 16,7 7,3 14,6 11,5 16,7 10,4 10,4 5,2 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 5,2 1,0 16,7 7,3 14,6 11,5 16,7 10,4 10,4 5,2 1,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 5,2 6,3 22,9 30,2 44,8 56,3 72,9 83,3 93,8 99,0 100,0
Bivariate Copenhagen: Correlations L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Code-switching score
Overall test score
L2 learners
Code-switching score
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Code-switc hing score 1
Nuuk: Correlations
Code-switching score
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Code-switc hing score 1
Overall test score ,331** ,001 96 96 ,331** 1 ,001 96 96
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
67
32 -,065 ,723 32 1 59 ,226 ,085 59
Overall test score -,065 ,723 32 1 32 ,226 ,085 59 1 59
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis B: Typology _____________________________________________________________________________________ Sub-hypothesis B.1: Typological distance Univariate Copenhagen: Language distance (LD) L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
,44 ,50 ,57 ,67 Total ,44
Frequency 5 14 1 12 32 59
Percent 15,6 43,8 3,1 37,5 100,0 100,0
Valid Percent 15,6 43,8 3,1 37,5 100,0 100,0
Nuuk: Language distance (LD)
Valid
,44 ,80 Total
Frequency 11 85 96
Percent 11,5 88,5 100,0
Valid Percent 11,5 88,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 11,5 100,0
Bivariate Copenhagen: Correlations
Language distance (LD)
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N
Language distance (LD) 1 91 ,007 ,474 91
68
Overall test score ,007 ,474 91 1 91
Cumulative Percent 15,6 59,4 62,5 100,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Correlations
Language distance (LD)
Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N
Language distance (LD) 1 96 -,236* ,010 96
Overall test score -,236* ,010 96 1 96
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (1-tailed).
Group Statistics
Overall test score
Language distance (LD) ,44 ,80
N
Mean 35,36 27,04
11 85
Std. Deviation 11,156 11,012
Std. Error Mean 3,364 1,194
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall test score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,030
Sig. ,862
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
2,357
94
,021
8,328
3,534
1,312
15,344
2,333
12,657
,037
8,328
3,569
,596
16,061
69
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis B.2: Psychotypology Univariate Copenhagen: Psychotypology L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
Missing
L2 learners
Total Missing
Correspondence Non-correspondence Total My languages are not similar I don't know Total
Frequency 7 12 19
Percent 21,9 37,5 59,4
6
18,8
7 13 32
21,9 40,6 100,0
59
100,0
Invalid, missing or irelevant responses
Valid Percent 36,8 63,2 100,0
Nuuk: Psychotypology
Valid
Missing
Total
Correspondence Non-correspondence Total My languages are not similar I don't know Invalid, missing or irelevant responses Total
Frequency 18 33 51
Percent 18,8 34,4 53,1
13
13,5
25
26,0
7
7,3
45 96
46,9 100,0
70
Valid Percent 35,3 64,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 35,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 36,8 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics
Overall test score
Psychotypology Correspondence Non-correspondence
N 7 12
Mean 42,71 37,17
Std. Deviation 3,904 6,939
Std. Error Mean 1,475 2,003
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall test score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F 4,351
Sig. ,052
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
1,930
17
,070
5,548
2,875
-,517
11,613
2,230
17,000
,040
5,548
2,488
,299
10,797
71
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall test score
Psychotypology Correspondence Non-correspondence
N 18 33
Mean 35,72 27,21
Std. Deviation 11,297 9,446
Std. Error Mean 2,663 1,644
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall test score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,486
Sig. ,489
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
2,868
49
,006
8,510
2,967
2,547
14,473
2,719
30,113
,011
8,510
3,130
2,120
14,901
72
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis C: Metalinguistic knowledge _____________________________________________________________________________________ bivariate Copenhagen: Correlations L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Metalinguistic score
Non-metalinguistic score
L2 learners
Metalinguistic score
Non-metalinguistic score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Metalinguistic score 1
Non-metalin guistic score ,463** ,008 32 32 ,463** 1 ,008 32 32 1 ,666** ,000 59 59 ,666** 1 ,000 59 59
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Nuuk: Correlations
Metalinguistic score
Non-metalinguistic score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Metalinguistic score 1
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
73
Non-metalin guistic score ,664** ,000 96 96 ,664** 1 ,000 96 96
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis D: Motivation _____________________________________________________________________________________ Sub-hypothesis D.1: Effort Univariate Copenhagen: Compared to the others, I study L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total
Study more Study as much Study less Total Study more Study as much Study less Total Invalid
Frequency 9 17 6 32 11 33 12 56 3 59
Percent 28,1 53,1 18,8 100,0 18,6 55,9 20,3 94,9 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 28,1 53,1 18,8 100,0 19,6 58,9 21,4 100,0
Nuuk: Compared to the others, I study
Valid
Missing Total
Study more Study as much Study less Total Invalid
Frequency 16 59 19 94 2 96
Percent 16,7 61,5 19,8 97,9 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 17,0 62,8 20,2 100,0
74
Cumulative Percent 17,0 79,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 28,1 81,3 100,0 19,6 78,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Study more Study as much Study less Total Study more Study as much Study less Total
N 9 17 6 32 11 33 12 56
Mean 40,56 40,71 31,50 38,94 46,09 40,52 36,83 40,82
Std. Deviation 7,518 5,371 9,566 7,577 9,332 6,129 11,808 8,641
Std. Error 2,506 1,303 3,905 1,339 2,814 1,067 3,409 1,155
75
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 34,78 46,33 37,94 43,47 21,46 41,54 36,21 41,67 39,82 52,36 38,34 42,69 29,33 44,34 38,51 43,14
Minimum 29 33 19 19 21 23 15 15
Maximum 51 52 44 52 54 52 52 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 2,692 4,955
df1
df2 2 2
Sig. ,085 ,011
29 53
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 408,623 1371,252 1779,875 499,396 3606,818 4106,214
df 2 29 31 2 53 55
76
Mean Square 204,312 47,285
F 4,321
Sig. ,023
249,698 68,053
3,669
,032
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
LSD
(I) Compared to the others, I study Study more Study as much Study less
Bonferroni
Study more Study as much Study less
L2 learners
LSD
Study more Study as much Study less
Bonferroni
Study more Study as much Study less
(J) Compared to the others, I study Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much
Mean Difference (I-J) -,150 9,056* ,150 9,206* -9,056* -9,206* -,150 9,056 ,150 9,206* -9,056 -9,206* 5,576 9,258* -5,576 3,682 -9,258* -3,682 5,576 9,258* -5,576 3,682 -9,258* -3,682
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
77
Std. Error 2,835 3,624 2,835 3,265 3,624 3,265 2,835 3,624 2,835 3,265 3,624 3,265 2,872 3,444 2,872 2,781 3,444 2,781 2,872 3,444 2,872 2,781 3,444 2,781
Sig. ,958 ,018 ,958 ,009 ,018 ,009 1,000 ,055 1,000 ,026 ,055 ,026 ,058 ,010 ,058 ,191 ,010 ,191 ,173 ,029 ,173 ,574 ,029 ,574
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -5,95 5,65 1,64 16,47 -5,65 5,95 2,53 15,88 -16,47 -1,64 -15,88 -2,53 -7,35 7,05 -,15 18,26 -7,05 7,35 ,91 17,50 -18,26 ,15 -17,50 -,91 -,18 11,34 2,35 16,16 -11,34 ,18 -1,90 9,26 -16,16 -2,35 -9,26 1,90 -1,53 12,68 ,74 17,77 -12,68 1,53 -3,19 10,56 -17,77 -,74 -10,56 3,19
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Descriptives Overall score
N
Study more Study as much Study less Total
Mean 37,13 28,22 20,11 28,10
16 59 19 94
Std. Deviation 9,251 10,457 10,170 11,362
Std. Error 2,313 1,361 2,333 1,172
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 32,20 42,05 25,50 30,95 15,20 25,01 25,77 30,42
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,203
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,817
91
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 2518,463 9487,675 12006,138
df 2 91 93
Mean Square 1259,232 104,260
F 12,078
Sig. ,000
78
Minimum 21 10 6 6
Maximum 50 48 44 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score
LSD
(I) Compared to the others, I study Study more Study as much Study less
Bonferroni
Study more Study as much Study less
(J) Compared to the others, I study Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much Study as much Study less Study more Study less Study more Study as much
Mean Difference (I-J) 8,905* 17,020* -8,905* 8,115* -17,020* -8,115* 8,905* 17,020* -8,905* 8,115* -17,020* -8,115*
Std. Error 2,878 3,465 2,878 2,693 3,465 2,693 2,878 3,465 2,878 2,693 3,465 2,693
Sig. ,003 ,000 ,003 ,003 ,000 ,003 ,008 ,000 ,008 ,010 ,000 ,010
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
79
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound 3,19 14,62 10,14 23,90 -14,62 -3,19 2,76 13,47 -23,90 -10,14 -13,47 -2,76 1,88 15,92 8,57 25,47 -15,92 -1,88 1,55 14,68 -25,47 -8,57 -14,68 -1,55
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis D.2: Affect D.2.1: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes Univariate Copenhagen: How important do your parents find it that you learn English? L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Very important As important as other subjects Total I don't know
Frequency 18
Percent 56,3
Valid Percent 60,0
Cumulative Percent 60,0
12
37,5
40,0
100,0
30 2 32 22
93,8 6,3 100,0 37,3
100,0
40,7
40,7
30
50,8
55,6
96,3
2 54 2 3 5 59
3,4 91,5 3,4 5,1 8,5 100,0
3,7 100,0
100,0
Very important As important as other subjects Not important Total I don't know Invalid Total
Total
Nuuk: How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Valid
Missing
Total
Very important As important as other subjects Not important Total I don't know Invalid Total
Frequency 33
Percent 34,4
Valid Percent 42,9
Cumulative Percent 42,9
43
44,8
55,8
98,7
1 77 18 1 19 96
1,0 80,2 18,8 1,0 19,8 100,0
1,3 100,0
100,0
80
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.1.a: Parental attitudes in relation to respondents’ preference for English Univariate Copenhagen: Preference for English score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
,00 ,50 1,00 1,50 2,00 2,50 3,00 3,50 Total ,00 1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 Total
Frequency 5 3 9 6 2 2 3 2 32 35 11 9 2 2 59
Percent 15,6 9,4 28,1 18,8 6,3 6,3 9,4 6,3 100,0 59,3 18,6 15,3 3,4 3,4 100,0
Valid Percent 15,6 9,4 28,1 18,8 6,3 6,3 9,4 6,3 100,0 59,3 18,6 15,3 3,4 3,4 100,0
Nuuk: Preference for English score
Valid
,00 ,50 1,00 1,50 2,00 2,50 3,00 4,00 Total
Frequency 49 13 16 7 6 2 2 1 96
Percent 51,0 13,5 16,7 7,3 6,3 2,1 2,1 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 51,0 13,5 16,7 7,3 6,3 2,1 2,1 1,0 100,0
81
Cumulative Percent 51,0 64,6 81,3 88,5 94,8 96,9 99,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 15,6 25,0 53,1 71,9 78,1 84,4 93,8 100,0 59,3 78,0 93,2 96,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen:
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Preference for English score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,630 ,430
df1
df2 1 2
Sig. ,434 ,653
28 51
ANOVA Preference for English score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares ,235 31,132 31,367 ,848 57,985 58,833
df 1 28 29 2 51 53
82
Mean Square ,235 1,112
F ,211
Sig. ,649
,424 1,137
,373
,690
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Preference for English score
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
LSD
(I) How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Very important
As important as other subjects Not important
Bonferroni
Very important
As important as other subjects Not important
(J) How important do your parents find it that you learn English? As important as other subjects Not important Very important Not important
Mean Difference (I-J)
Std. Error
Sig.
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound
-,24242
,29930
,422
-,8433
,3584
,09091 ,24242
,78750 ,29930
,909 ,422
-1,4901 -,3584
1,6719 ,8433
,33333
,77870
,670
-1,2300
1,8966
Very important As important as other subjects As important as other subjects Not important Very important Not important
-,09091
,78750
,909
-1,6719
1,4901
-,33333
,77870
,670
-1,8966
1,2300
-,24242
,29930
1,000
-,9833
,4985
,09091 ,24242
,78750 ,29930
1,000 1,000
-1,8586 -,4985
2,0404 ,9833
,33333
,77870
1,000
-1,5944
2,2610
Very important As important as other subjects
-,09091
,78750
1,000
-2,0404
1,8586
-,33333
,77870
1,000
-2,2610
1,5944
83
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Preference for English score Preference for English score
How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Very important As important as other subjects Very important As important as other subjects
18
Mean 1,3611
Std. Deviation 1,14796
Std. Error Mean ,27058
12
1,5417
,89082
,25716
22
,5909
1,05375
,22466
30
,8333
1,08543
,19817
N
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Preference for English score
Preference for English score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,630
,225
Sig. ,434
,637
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-,459
28
,649
-,18056
,39297
-,98552
,62440
-,484
27,237
,632
-,18056
,37329
-,94616
,58505
-,805
50
,424
-,24242
,30097
-,84694
,36209
-,809
46,158
,423
-,24242
,29957
-,84538
,36053
84
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Test of Homogeneity of Variances Preference for English score Levene Statistic ,052
df1
df2 1
Sig. ,820
74
ANOVA Preference for English score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 3,676 58,902 62,578
df 2 74 76
Mean Square 1,838 ,796
F 2,309
Sig. ,106
D.2.1.b: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes towards the English language Univariate Copenhagen: English is... easy-difficult L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Missing
Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total Invalid No response Total
Total
85
Frequency 14 5 9 2 2 32 20 15 11 7 2 55 1 3 4 59
Percent 43,8 15,6 28,1 6,3 6,3 100,0 33,9 25,4 18,6 11,9 3,4 93,2 1,7 5,1 6,8 100,0
Valid Percent 43,8 15,6 28,1 6,3 6,3 100,0 36,4 27,3 20,0 12,7 3,6 100,0
Cumulative Percent 43,8 59,4 87,5 93,8 100,0 36,4 63,6 83,6 96,4 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... rough-smooth L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total No response Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total No response Invalid Total
Total
Frequency 7 11 6 5 29 3 32 5 18 23 5 51 7 1 8 59
Percent 21,9 34,4 18,8 15,6 90,6 9,4 100,0 8,5 30,5 39,0 8,5 86,4 11,9 1,7 13,6 100,0
Valid Percent 24,1 37,9 20,7 17,2 100,0
Percent 9,4 37,5 31,3 9,4 3,1 90,6 9,4 100,0 13,6 25,4 30,5 10,2 6,8 86,4 11,9 1,7 13,6 100,0
Valid Percent 10,3 41,4 34,5 10,3 3,4 100,0
9,8 35,3 45,1 9,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 24,1 62,1 82,8 100,0
9,8 45,1 90,2 100,0
English is... precise-loose L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Very precise Rather precise Neither precise nor loose Rather loose Very loose Total No response Very precise Rather precise Neither precise nor loose Rather loose Very loose Total No response Invalid Total
Total
86
Frequency 3 12 10 3 1 29 3 32 8 15 18 6 4 51 7 1 8 59
15,7 29,4 35,3 11,8 7,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 10,3 51,7 86,2 96,6 100,0
15,7 45,1 80,4 92,2 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... clumsy-elegant L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Very clumsy Rather clumsy Neither clumsy nor elegant Rather elegant Very elegant Total No response
Frequency 2 1
Percent 6,3 3,1
Valid Percent 6,7 3,3
Cumulative Percent 6,7 10,0
8
25,0
26,7
36,7
9 10 30 2 32 1
28,1 31,3 93,8 6,3 100,0 1,7
30,0 33,3 100,0
66,7 100,0
2,0
2,0
23
39,0
45,1
47,1
17 10 51 8 59
28,8 16,9 86,4 13,6 100,0
33,3 19,6 100,0
80,4 100,0
Rather clumsy Neither clumsy nor elegant Rather elegant Very elegant Total No response
English is... fast-slow L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Very fast Rather fast Neither fast nor slow Rather slow Very slow Total No response Very fast Rather fast Neither fast nor slow Rather slow Very slow Total No response
Frequency 4 8 13 3 1 29 3 32 2 16 29 5 1 53 6 59
87
Percent 12,5 25,0 40,6 9,4 3,1 90,6 9,4 100,0 3,4 27,1 49,2 8,5 1,7 89,8 10,2 100,0
Valid Percent 13,8 27,6 44,8 10,3 3,4 100,0
3,8 30,2 54,7 9,4 1,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 13,8 41,4 86,2 96,6 100,0
3,8 34,0 88,7 98,1 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... cold-intimate L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Very cold Rather cold Neither cold nor intimate Rather intimate Very intimate Total No response Rather cold Neither cold nor intimate Rather intimate Very intimate Total No response
Frequency 2 3 13 8 3 29 3 32 6 26 18 2 52 7 59
Percent 6,3 9,4 40,6 25,0 9,4 90,6 9,4 100,0 10,2 44,1 30,5 3,4 88,1 11,9 100,0
Valid Percent 6,9 10,3 44,8 27,6 10,3 100,0
Percent 15,6 28,1 34,4 9,4 6,3 93,8 6,3 100,0 8,5 32,2 33,9 11,9 3,4 89,8 10,2 100,0
Valid Percent 16,7 30,0 36,7 10,0 6,7 100,0
11,5 50,0 34,6 3,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 6,9 17,2 62,1 89,7 100,0
11,5 61,5 96,2 100,0
English is... gentle-harsh L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Very gentle Rather gentle Neither gentle nor harsh Rather harsh Very harsh Total No response Very gentle Rather gentle Neither gentle nor harsh Rather harsh Very harsh Total No response
88
Frequency 5 9 11 3 2 30 2 32 5 19 20 7 2 53 6 59
9,4 35,8 37,7 13,2 3,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 16,7 46,7 83,3 93,3 100,0
9,4 45,3 83,0 96,2 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... useless-useful L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Total No response
Frequency
Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Total No response
Percent
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
4
12,5
12,9
12,9
3 24 31 1 32
9,4 75,0 96,9 3,1 100,0
9,7 77,4 100,0
22,6 100,0
1
1,7
1,8
1,8
5 49 55 4 59
8,5 83,1 93,2 6,8 100,0
9,1 89,1 100,0
10,9 100,0
English is... educated-uneducated L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Very educated Rather educated Neither educated nor uneducated Rather uneducated Total No response
Frequency 18 7
Percent 56,3 21,9
Valid Percent 60,0 23,3
Cumulative Percent 60,0 83,3
4
12,5
13,3
96,7
1 30 2 32 16 15
3,1 93,8 6,3 100,0 27,1 25,4
3,3 100,0
100,0
31,4 29,4
31,4 60,8
13
22,0
25,5
86,3
6 1 51 7 1 8 59
10,2 1,7 86,4 11,9 1,7 13,6 100,0
11,8 2,0 100,0
98,0 100,0
Very educated Rather educated Neither educated nor uneducated Rather uneducated Very uneducated Total No response Invalid Total
Total
89
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... unpopular-popular L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Valid
Missing
Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular Very popular Total Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular Very popular Total Invalid No response Total
Frequency
Total
Percent
Valid Percent
2
6,3
6,3
6,3
3 27 32
9,4 84,4 100,0
9,4 84,4 100,0
15,6 100,0
6
10,2
10,9
10,9
6 43 55 1 3 4 59
10,2 72,9 93,2 1,7 5,1 6,8 100,0
10,9 78,2 100,0
21,8 100,0
Nuuk: English is... easy-difficult
Valid
Missing Total
Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total No response
Frequency 9 31 22 28 3 93 3 96
Percent 9,4 32,3 22,9 29,2 3,1 96,9 3,1 100,0
Valid Percent 9,7 33,3 23,7 30,1 3,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 9,7 43,0 66,7 96,8 100,0
English is... rough-smooth
Valid
Missing Total
Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total No response
Frequency 2 17 48 18 3 88 8 96
Percent 2,1 17,7 50,0 18,8 3,1 91,7 8,3 100,0
90
Cumulative Percent
Valid Percent 2,3 19,3 54,5 20,5 3,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 2,3 21,6 76,1 96,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... precise-loose
Valid
Missing Total
Very precise Rather precise Neither precise nor loose Rather loose Very loose Total No response
Frequency 5 18 46 17 2 88 8 96
Percent 5,2 18,8 47,9 17,7 2,1 91,7 8,3 100,0
Valid Percent 5,7 20,5 52,3 19,3 2,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 5,7 26,1 78,4 97,7 100,0
English is... clumsy-elegant
Valid
Missing Total
Very clumsy Rather clumsy Neither clumsy nor elegant Rather elegant Very elegant Total No response
Frequency 4 11
Percent 4,2 11,5
Valid Percent 4,4 12,2
Cumulative Percent 4,4 16,7
41
42,7
45,6
62,2
26 8 90 6 96
27,1 8,3 93,8 6,3 100,0
28,9 8,9 100,0
91,1 100,0
English is... fast-slow
Valid
Missing Total
Very fast Rather fast Neither fast nor slow Rather slow Very slow Total No response
Frequency 10 27 40 14 1 92 4 96
Percent 10,4 28,1 41,7 14,6 1,0 95,8 4,2 100,0
Valid Percent 10,9 29,3 43,5 15,2 1,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 10,9 40,2 83,7 98,9 100,0
English is... cold-intimate
Valid
Missing Total
Very cold Rather cold Neither cold nor intimate Rather intimate Very intimate Total No response
Frequency 2 10 55 19 2 88 8 96
Percent 2,1 10,4 57,3 19,8 2,1 91,7 8,3 100,0
91
Valid Percent 2,3 11,4 62,5 21,6 2,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 2,3 13,6 76,1 97,7 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy English is... gentle-harsh
Valid
Missing Total
Very gentle Rather gentle Neither gentle nor harsh Rather harsh Very harsh Total No response
Frequency 5 18 52 9 4 88 8 96
Percent 5,2 18,8 54,2 9,4 4,2 91,7 8,3 100,0
Valid Percent 5,7 20,5 59,1 10,2 4,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 5,7 26,1 85,2 95,5 100,0
English is... useless-useful
Valid
Missing Total
Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Total No response
Frequency 4 4
Percent 4,2 4,2
Valid Percent 4,5 4,5
Cumulative Percent 4,5 9,0
22
22,9
24,7
33,7
17 42 89 7 96
17,7 43,8 92,7 7,3 100,0
19,1 47,2 100,0
52,8 100,0
English is... educated-uneducated
Valid
Missing Total
Very educated Rather educated Neither educated nor uneducated Rather uneducated Very uneducated Total No response
Frequency 13 32
Percent 13,5 33,3
Valid Percent 14,9 36,8
Cumulative Percent 14,9 51,7
34
35,4
39,1
90,8
7 1 87 9 96
7,3 1,0 90,6 9,4 100,0
8,0 1,1 100,0
98,9 100,0
English is... unpopular-popular
Valid
Missing Total
Very unpopular Rather unpopular Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular Very popular Total No response
Frequency 3 2
Percent 3,1 2,1
Valid Percent 3,4 2,3
Cumulative Percent 3,4 5,7
27
28,1
30,7
36,4
21 35 88 8 96
21,9 36,5 91,7 8,3 100,0
23,9 39,8 100,0
60,2 100,0
92
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
93
Very easy 8
English is... easy-difficult Neither easy nor difficult Rather easy Rather difficult 3 3 2
Very difficult 2
Total 18
44,4%
16,7%
16,7%
11,1%
11,1%
100,0%
5
2
5
0
0
12
41,7%
16,7%
41,7%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
13
5
8
2
2
30
43,3%
16,7%
26,7%
6,7%
6,7%
100,0%
10
6
2
3
0
21
47,6%
28,6%
9,5%
14,3%
,0%
100,0%
9
9
6
3
2
29
31,0%
31,0%
20,7%
10,3%
6,9%
100,0%
19
15
8
6
2
50
38,0%
30,0%
16,0%
12,0%
4,0%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,084 30 ,270 50
Asymp. a Std. Error ,277
Approx. T -,303
b
Approx. Sig. ,762
,209
1,276
,202
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
94
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
95
Rather rough 3
English is... rough-smooth Neither rough Rather nor smooth smooth 6 2
Very smooth 4
Total 15
20,0%
40,0%
13,3%
26,7%
100,0%
4
4
3
1
12
33,3%
33,3%
25,0%
8,3%
100,0%
7
10
5
5
27
25,9%
37,0%
18,5%
18,5%
100,0%
2
7
7
3
19
10,5%
36,8%
36,8%
15,8%
100,0%
3
8
14
2
27
11,1%
29,6%
51,9%
7,4%
100,0%
5
15
21
5
46
10,9%
32,6%
45,7%
10,9%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,254 27 ,003 46
Asymp. a Std. Error ,275
Approx. T -,905
b
Approx. Sig. ,365
,244
,012
,991
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
96
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
97
Very precise 2
English is... precise-loose Neither Rather precise Rather loose precise nor loose 5 6 1
Very loose 1
Total 15
13,3%
33,3%
40,0%
6,7%
6,7%
100,0%
1
7
3
1
0
12
8,3%
58,3%
25,0%
8,3%
,0%
100,0%
3
12
9
2
1
27
11,1%
44,4%
33,3%
7,4%
3,7%
100,0%
3
7
5
3
1
19
15,8%
36,8%
26,3%
15,8%
5,3%
100,0%
5
5
11
3
3
27
18,5%
18,5%
40,7%
11,1%
11,1%
100,0%
8
12
16
6
4
46
17,4%
26,1%
34,8%
13,0%
8,7%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,226 27 ,131 46
Asymp. a Std. Error ,294
Approx. T -,757
b
Approx. Sig. ,449
,215
,610
,542
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
98
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very clumsy 2
99
English is... clumsy-elegant Neither Rather Rather clumsy nor clumsy elegant elegant 1 4 1
Very elegant 8
Total 16
12,5%
6,3%
25,0%
6,3%
50,0%
100,0%
0
0
3
7
2
12
,0%
,0%
25,0%
58,3%
16,7%
100,0%
2
1
7
8
10
28
7,1%
3,6%
25,0%
28,6%
35,7%
100,0%
1
5
7
5
18
5,6%
27,8%
38,9%
27,8%
100,0%
0
13
10
4
27
,0%
48,1%
37,0%
14,8%
100,0%
0
1
0
0
1
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
1
19
17
9
46
2,2%
41,3%
37,0%
19,6%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,057 28 -,296 46
Asymp. a Std. Error ,269
Approx. T -,213
b
Approx. Sig. ,831
,228
-1,254
,210
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
100
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very fast 4
101
English is... fast-slow Neither fast nor slow Rather fast Rather slow 4 4 2
Very slow 1
Total 15
26,7%
26,7%
26,7%
13,3%
6,7%
100,0%
0
4
7
1
0
12
,0%
33,3%
58,3%
8,3%
,0%
100,0%
4
8
11
3
1
27
14,8%
29,6%
40,7%
11,1%
3,7%
100,0%
0
9
9
2
0
20
,0%
45,0%
45,0%
10,0%
,0%
100,0%
2
6
16
2
1
27
7,4%
22,2%
59,3%
7,4%
3,7%
100,0%
0
0
1
0
0
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
2
15
26
4
1
48
4,2%
31,3%
54,2%
8,3%
2,1%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value ,254 27 ,206 48
Asymp. a Std. Error ,276
Approx. T ,904
b
Approx. Sig. ,366
,229
,883
,377
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
102
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very cold 2
103
English is... cold-intimate Neither cold Rather nor intimate intimate Rather cold 0 4 6
Very intimate 3
Total 15
13,3%
,0%
26,7%
40,0%
20,0%
100,0%
0
2
8
2
0
12
,0%
16,7%
66,7%
16,7%
,0%
100,0%
2
2
12
8
3
27
7,4%
7,4%
44,4%
29,6%
11,1%
100,0%
4
9
6
0
19
21,1%
47,4%
31,6%
,0%
100,0%
2
14
9
2
27
7,4%
51,9%
33,3%
7,4%
100,0%
0
0
1
0
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
100,0%
6
23
16
2
47
12,8%
48,9%
34,0%
4,3%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,529 27 ,348 47
Asymp. a Std. Error ,241
Approx. T -2,075
b
Approx. Sig. ,038
,219
1,506
,132
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
104
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very gentle 4
105
English is... gentle-harsh Neither gentle Rather gentle Rather harsh nor harsh 5 4 1
Very harsh 2
Total 16
25,0%
31,3%
25,0%
6,3%
12,5%
100,0%
1
4
6
1
0
12
8,3%
33,3%
50,0%
8,3%
,0%
100,0%
5
9
10
2
2
28
17,9%
32,1%
35,7%
7,1%
7,1%
100,0%
1
10
6
2
1
20
5,0%
50,0%
30,0%
10,0%
5,0%
100,0%
4
8
10
4
1
27
14,8%
29,6%
37,0%
14,8%
3,7%
100,0%
0
0
1
0
0
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
5
18
17
6
2
48
10,4%
37,5%
35,4%
12,5%
4,2%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value ,161 28 ,091 48
Asymp. a Std. Error ,276
Approx. T ,579
b
Approx. Sig. ,563
,209
,434
,664
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
106
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
English is... useless-useful Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful 2 0 15
107
Total 17
11,8%
,0%
88,2%
100,0%
2
1
9
12
16,7%
8,3%
75,0%
100,0%
4
1
24
29
13,8%
3,4%
82,8%
100,0%
0
1
19
20
,0%
5,0%
95,0%
100,0%
1
4
24
29
3,4%
13,8%
82,8%
100,0%
0
0
1
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
100,0%
1
5
44
50
2,0%
10,0%
88,0%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,385 29 -,524 50
Asymp. a Std. Error ,412
Approx. T -,832
b
Approx. Sig. ,406
,351
-1,342
,180
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
108
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
109
Very educated 14
English is... educated-uneducated Neither Rather Rather educated nor educated uneducated uneducated 1 1 0
Very uneducated
Total 16
87,5%
6,3%
6,3%
,0%
100,0%
4
4
3
1
12
33,3%
33,3%
25,0%
8,3%
100,0%
18
5
4
1
28
64,3%
17,9%
14,3%
3,6%
100,0%
7
5
5
2
0
19
36,8%
26,3%
26,3%
10,5%
,0%
100,0%
8
9
7
2
1
27
29,6%
33,3%
25,9%
7,4%
3,7%
100,0%
15
14
12
4
1
46
32,6%
30,4%
26,1%
8,7%
2,2%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value ,814 28 ,072 46
Asymp. a Std. Error ,148
Approx. T 3,332
b
Approx. Sig. ,001
,229
,316
,752
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
110
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
English is... unpopular-popular Neither Rather unpopular popular nor popular Very popular 1 0 17
111
Total 18
5,6%
,0%
94,4%
100,0%
1
2
9
12
8,3%
16,7%
75,0%
100,0%
2
2
26
30
6,7%
6,7%
86,7%
100,0%
2
0
18
20
10,0%
,0%
90,0%
100,0%
4
5
20
29
13,8%
17,2%
69,0%
100,0%
0
0
1
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
100,0%
6
5
39
50
12,0%
10,0%
78,0%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma Gamma
Value -,645 30 -,453 50
Asymp. a Std. Error ,341
Approx. T -1,356
b
Approx. Sig. ,175
,289
-1,510
,131
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
112
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very easy 1
English is... easy-difficult Neither easy Rather easy Rather difficult nor difficult 12 5 11
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,158
Total 32
3,1%
37,5%
15,6%
34,4%
9,4%
100,0%
6
15
12
10
0
43
14,0%
34,9%
27,9%
23,3%
,0%
100,0%
1
0
0
0
0
1
100,0%
,0%
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
8
27
17
21
3
76
10,5%
35,5%
22,4%
27,6%
3,9%
100,0%
b
Approx. Sig. ,034
Symmetric Measures Value -,355 76
Very difficult 3
Approx. T -2,116
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
113
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very rough 2
English is... rough-smooth Neither rough Rather Rather rough nor smooth smooth 7 17 3
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,147
Total 29
6,9%
24,1%
58,6%
10,3%
,0%
100,0%
0
7
18
13
3
41
,0%
17,1%
43,9%
31,7%
7,3%
100,0%
0
0
0
1
0
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
100,0%
2
14
35
17
3
71
2,8%
19,7%
49,3%
23,9%
4,2%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value ,536 71
Very smooth 0
b
Approx. T 3,222
Approx. Sig. ,001
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
114
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very precise 3
English is... precise-loose Neither precise Rather nor loose Rather loose precise 7 13 5
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,185
Total 29
10,3%
24,1%
44,8%
17,2%
3,4%
100,0%
2
10
19
9
1
41
4,9%
24,4%
46,3%
22,0%
2,4%
100,0%
0
0
0
1
0
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
100,0%
5
17
32
15
2
71
7,0%
23,9%
45,1%
21,1%
2,8%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value ,162 71
Very loose 1
b
Approx. T ,862
Approx. Sig. ,388
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
115
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very clumsy 2
English is... clumsy-elegant Neither Rather Rather clumsy nor clumsy elegant elegant 2 12 11
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,177
Total 29
6,9%
6,9%
41,4%
37,9%
6,9%
100,0%
1
8
20
8
6
43
2,3%
18,6%
46,5%
18,6%
14,0%
100,0%
0
0
0
1
0
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
100,0%
3
10
32
20
8
73
4,1%
13,7%
43,8%
27,4%
11,0%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value -,085 73
Very elegant 2
b
Approx. T -,481
Approx. Sig. ,630
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
116
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very fast 7
English is... fast-slow Neither fast Rather fast nor slow 9 15
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,159
Total 32
21,9%
28,1%
46,9%
3,1%
100,0%
3
14
16
9
42
7,1%
33,3%
38,1%
21,4%
100,0%
0
0
0
1
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
100,0%
10
23
31
11
75
13,3%
30,7%
41,3%
14,7%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value ,377 75
Rather slow 1
b
Approx. T 2,225
Approx. Sig. ,026
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
117
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very cold 1
English is... cold-intimate Neither cold Rather Rather cold nor intimate intimate 2 20 4
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,200
Total 28
3,6%
7,1%
71,4%
14,3%
3,6%
100,0%
0
6
22
13
1
42
,0%
14,3%
52,4%
31,0%
2,4%
100,0%
0
0
1
0
0
1
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
1
8
43
17
2
71
1,4%
11,3%
60,6%
23,9%
2,8%
100,0%
b
Approx. Sig. ,414
Symmetric Measures Value ,165 71
Very intimate 1
Approx. T ,817
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
118
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very gentle 2
English is... gentle-harsh Neither gentle Rather gentle Rather harsh nor harsh 2 17 4
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,171
Total 28
7,1%
7,1%
60,7%
14,3%
10,7%
100,0%
3
12
23
4
0
42
7,1%
28,6%
54,8%
9,5%
,0%
100,0%
0
1
0
0
0
1
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
5
15
40
8
3
71
7,0%
21,1%
56,3%
11,3%
4,2%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value -,484 71
Very harsh 3
b
Approx. T -2,632
Approx. Sig. ,008
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
119
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very useless 2
English is... useless-useful Neither Rather useless useless nor useful Rather useful 1 5 6
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,190
Total 30
6,7%
3,3%
16,7%
20,0%
53,3%
100,0%
1
2
11
9
18
41
2,4%
4,9%
26,8%
22,0%
43,9%
100,0%
0
0
0
0
1
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
100,0%
3
3
16
15
35
72
4,2%
4,2%
22,2%
20,8%
48,6%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value -,081 72
Very useful 16
b
Approx. T -,426
Approx. Sig. ,670
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
120
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
English is... educated-uneducated Neither Rather Rather educated nor educated uneducated Very educated uneducated 3 12 10 3
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,187
28
10,7%
42,9%
35,7%
10,7%
100,0%
7
15
17
2
41
17,1%
36,6%
41,5%
4,9%
100,0%
0
1
0
0
1
,0%
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
10
28
27
5
70
14,3%
40,0%
38,6%
7,1%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value -,114 70
Total
b
Approx. T -,609
Approx. Sig. ,543
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
121
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Crosstab
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very unpopular 2
English is... unpopular-popular Neither Rather Rather unpopular unpopular popular nor popular 1 5 7
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,180
Total 28
7,1%
3,6%
17,9%
25,0%
46,4%
100,0%
0
1
17
10
14
42
,0%
2,4%
40,5%
23,8%
33,3%
100,0%
0
0
0
1
0
1
,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
,0%
100,0%
2
2
22
18
27
71
2,8%
2,8%
31,0%
25,4%
38,0%
100,0%
Symmetric Measures Value -,172 71
Very popular 13
b
Approx. T -,951
Approx. Sig. ,342
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
122
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.1.c: Parental attitudes in relation to respondent attitudes towards English as school subject Univariate Copenhagen: I like English as school subject L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
The most The same Less Total Invalid The most The same Less Total Invalid
Frequency 7 23 1 31 1 32 22 29 5 56 3 59
Percent 21,9 71,9 3,1 96,9 3,1 100,0 37,3 49,2 8,5 94,9 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 22,6 74,2 3,2 100,0
39,3 51,8 8,9 100,0
Nuuk: I like English as school subject
Valid
Missing Total
The most The same Less Total Invalid
Frequency 22 57 16 95 1 96
Percent 22,9 59,4 16,7 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 23,2 60,0 16,8 100,0
123
Cumulative Percent 23,2 83,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 22,6 96,8 100,0
39,3 91,1 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: How important do your parents find it that you learn English? * I like English as school subject Crosstabulation L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Total
L2 learners
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
I like English as school subject The most The same Less 2 15 1
124
Total 18
11,1%
83,3%
5,6%
100,0%
5
6
0
11
45,5%
54,5%
,0%
100,0%
7
21
1
29
24,1%
72,4%
3,4%
100,0%
10
11
1
22
45,5%
50,0%
4,5%
100,0%
9
17
3
29
31,0%
58,6%
10,3%
100,0%
1
0
1
2
50,0%
,0%
50,0%
100,0%
20
28
5
53
37,7%
52,8%
9,4%
100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Value -,755 29 ,281 53
Gamma Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,202
Approx. T -2,233
b
Approx. Sig. ,026
,233
1,157
,247
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
Nuuk: How important do your parents find it that you learn English? * I like English as school subject Crosstabulation
How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
Very important
As important as other subjects
Not important
Total
Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English? Count % within How important do your parents find it that you learn English?
I like English as school subject The most The same Less 6 25 2
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,207
75,8%
6,1%
100,0%
11
22
9
42
26,2%
52,4%
21,4%
100,0%
1
0
0
1
100,0%
,0%
,0%
100,0%
18
47
11
76
23,7%
61,8%
14,5%
100,0%
b
Approx. T ,072
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
125
33
18,2%
Symmetric Measures Value ,015 76
Total
Approx. Sig. ,943
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.2: Respondent attitudes in relation to level of English proficiency D.2.2.a: Preference for English in relation to English proficiency Bivariate Copenhagen: Correlations L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Preference for English score Overall test score
L2 learners
Preference for English score Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Preference for English score 1
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Nuuk: Correlations
Preference for English score Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Preference for English score 1
Overall test score ,373** ,000 96 96 ,373** 1 ,000 96 96
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
126
Overall test score ,561** ,001 32 32 ,561** 1 ,001 32 32 1 ,025 ,851 59 59 ,025 1 ,851 59 59
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.2.b: Attitudes towards the English language in relation to English proficiency Bivariate Copenhagen: English is... easy-difficult Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total
N 14 5 9 2 2 32 20 15 11 7 2 55
Mean 42,14 43,20 36,89 28,50 25,50 38,94 42,20 45,40 40,64 39,57 29,50 41,96
Std. Deviation 6,395 4,438 4,137 13,435 ,707 7,577 7,223 4,748 5,887 10,031 10,607 7,351
Std. Error 1,709 1,985 1,379 9,500 ,500 1,339 1,615 1,226 1,775 3,791 7,500 ,991
127
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 38,45 45,84 37,69 48,71 33,71 40,07 -92,21 149,21 19,15 31,85 36,21 41,67 38,82 45,58 42,77 48,03 36,68 44,59 30,29 48,85 -65,80 124,80 39,98 43,95
Minimum 29 39 29 19 25 19 21 38 31 26 22 21
Maximum 52 50 43 38 26 52 51 54 50 53 37 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 2,532 1,387
df1
df2 4 4
Sig. ,064 ,252
27 50
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 851,472 928,403 1779,875 548,368 2369,560 2917,927
df 4 27 31 4 50 54
Mean Square 212,868 34,385
F 6,191
Sig. ,001
137,092 47,391
2,893
,031
128
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) -1,057 5,254* 13,643* 16,643* 1,057 6,311 14,700* 17,700* -5,254* -6,311 8,389 11,389* -13,643* -14,700* -8,389 3,000 -16,643* -17,700* -11,389* -3,000
Std. Error 3,055 2,505 4,433 4,433 3,055 3,271 4,906 4,906 2,505 3,271 4,584 4,584 4,433 4,906 4,584 5,864 4,433 4,906 4,584 5,864
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
129
Sig. ,732 ,045 ,005 ,001 ,732 ,064 ,006 ,001 ,045 ,064 ,078 ,019 ,005 ,006 ,078 ,613 ,001 ,001 ,019 ,613
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -7,33 5,21 ,11 10,39 4,55 22,74 7,55 25,74 -5,21 7,33 -,40 13,02 4,63 24,77 7,63 27,77 -10,39 -,11 -13,02 ,40 -1,02 17,79 1,98 20,79 -22,74 -4,55 -24,77 -4,63 -17,79 1,02 -9,03 15,03 -25,74 -7,55 -27,77 -7,63 -20,79 -1,98 -15,03 9,03
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) -1,057 5,254 13,643* 16,643* 1,057 6,311 14,700 17,700* -5,254 -6,311 8,389 11,389 -13,643* -14,700 -8,389 3,000 -16,643* -17,700* -11,389 -3,000
Std. Error 3,055 2,505 4,433 4,433 3,055 3,271 4,906 4,906 2,505 3,271 4,584 4,584 4,433 4,906 4,584 5,864 4,433 4,906 4,584 5,864
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
130
Sig. 1,000 ,455 ,047 ,008 1,000 ,642 ,058 ,012 ,455 ,642 ,783 ,195 ,047 ,058 ,783 1,000 ,008 ,012 ,195 1,000
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -10,39 8,28 -2,40 12,91 ,09 27,19 3,09 30,19 -8,28 10,39 -3,69 16,31 -,30 29,70 2,70 32,70 -12,91 2,40 -16,31 3,69 -5,62 22,40 -2,62 25,40 -27,19 -,09 -29,70 ,30 -22,40 5,62 -14,92 20,92 -30,19 -3,09 -32,70 -2,70 -25,40 2,62 -20,92 14,92
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) -3,200 1,564 2,629 12,700* 3,200 4,764 5,829 15,900* -1,564 -4,764 1,065 11,136* -2,629 -5,829 -1,065 10,071 -12,700* -15,900* -11,136* -10,071
Std. Error 2,351 2,584 3,023 5,105 2,351 2,733 3,151 5,182 2,584 2,733 3,328 5,292 3,023 3,151 3,328 5,520 5,105 5,182 5,292 5,520
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
131
Sig. ,180 ,548 ,389 ,016 ,180 ,087 ,070 ,003 ,548 ,087 ,750 ,040 ,389 ,070 ,750 ,074 ,016 ,003 ,040 ,074
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -7,92 1,52 -3,63 6,75 -3,44 8,70 2,45 22,95 -1,52 7,92 -,73 10,25 -,50 12,16 5,49 26,31 -6,75 3,63 -10,25 ,73 -5,62 7,75 ,51 21,77 -8,70 3,44 -12,16 ,50 -7,75 5,62 -1,01 21,16 -22,95 -2,45 -26,31 -5,49 -21,77 -,51 -21,16 1,01
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) -3,200 1,564 2,629 12,700 3,200 4,764 5,829 15,900* -1,564 -4,764 1,065 11,136 -2,629 -5,829 -1,065 10,071 -12,700 -15,900* -11,136 -10,071
Std. Error 2,351 2,584 3,023 5,105 2,351 2,733 3,151 5,182 2,584 2,733 3,328 5,292 3,023 3,151 3,328 5,520 5,105 5,182 5,292 5,520
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
132
Sig. 1,000 1,000 1,000 ,162 1,000 ,874 ,703 ,035 1,000 ,874 1,000 ,404 1,000 ,703 1,000 ,740 ,162 ,035 ,404 ,740
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -10,11 3,71 -6,03 9,15 -6,25 11,51 -2,29 27,69 -3,71 10,11 -3,26 12,79 -3,43 15,08 ,68 31,12 -9,15 6,03 -12,79 3,26 -8,71 10,84 -4,41 26,68 -11,51 6,25 -15,08 3,43 -10,84 8,71 -6,14 26,28 -27,69 2,29 -31,12 -,68 -26,68 4,41 -26,28 6,14
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... rough-smooth Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
N
Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total
7 11 6 5 29 5 18 23 5 51
Mean 42,29 35,09 45,17 37,80 39,38 36,20 42,83 43,39 43,00 42,45
Std. Deviation 3,402 5,431 5,154 11,862 7,404 11,032 5,361 7,408 3,082 6,987
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 2,145 4,437
df1
df2 3 3
25 47
Sig. ,120 ,008
133
Std. Error 1,286 1,637 2,104 5,305 1,375 4,934 1,263 1,545 1,378 ,978
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 39,14 45,43 31,44 38,74 39,76 50,58 23,07 52,53 36,56 42,20 22,50 49,90 40,17 45,50 40,19 46,59 39,17 46,83 40,49 44,42
Minimum 37 25 38 19 19 22 26 31 39 22
Maximum 46 42 52 51 52 49 51 54 47 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 474,857 1059,971 1534,828 219,849 2220,778 2440,627
df 3 25 28 3 47 50
Mean Square 158,286 42,399
F 3,733
Sig. ,024
73,283 47,251
1,551
,214
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English is... rough-smooth Rather rough
Neither rough nor smooth
Rather smooth
Very smooth
(J) English is... rough-smooth Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Rather rough Rather smooth Very smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Very smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth
Mean Difference (I-J) 7,195* -2,881 4,486 -7,195* -10,076* -2,709 2,881 10,076* 7,367 -4,486 2,709 -7,367
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
134
Std. Error 3,148 3,623 3,813 3,148 3,305 3,512 3,623 3,305 3,943 3,813 3,512 3,943
Sig. ,031 ,434 ,250 ,031 ,005 ,448 ,434 ,005 ,073 ,250 ,448 ,073
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound ,71 13,68 -10,34 4,58 -3,37 12,34 -13,68 -,71 -16,88 -3,27 -9,94 4,52 -4,58 10,34 3,27 16,88 -,75 15,49 -12,34 3,37 -4,52 9,94 -15,49 ,75
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
(I) English is... rough-smooth Rather rough
Neither rough nor smooth
Rather smooth
Very smooth
(J) English is... rough-smooth Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Rather rough Rather smooth Very smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Very smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth
Mean Difference (I-J) 7,195 -2,881 4,486 -7,195 -10,076* -2,709 2,881 10,076* 7,367 -4,486 2,709 -7,367
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
English is... precise-loose
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,086 1,396
df1
df2 3 4
24 46
Sig. ,374 ,250
135
Std. Error 3,148 3,623 3,813 3,148 3,305 3,512 3,623 3,305 3,943 3,813 3,512 3,943
Sig. ,186 1,000 1,000 ,186 ,032 1,000 1,000 ,032 ,441 1,000 1,000 ,441
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -1,82 16,21 -13,26 7,50 -6,44 15,41 -16,21 1,82 -19,54 -,61 -12,77 7,35 -7,50 13,26 ,61 19,54 -3,93 18,66 -15,41 6,44 -7,35 12,77 -18,66 3,93
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 485,960 1077,833 1563,793 224,541 2216,086 2440,627
df 4 24 28 4 46 50
Mean Square 121,490 44,910
F 2,705
Sig. ,054
56,135 48,176
1,165
,339
English is... clumsy-elegant Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Very clumsy Rather clumsy Neither clumsy nor elegant Rather elegant Very elegant Total Rather clumsy Neither clumsy nor elegant Rather elegant Very elegant Total
N
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 9,73 73,27 . .
2 1
Mean 41,50 25,00
Std. Deviation 3,536 .
Std. Error 2,500 .
Minimum 39 25
Maximum 44 25
8
37,50
9,783
3,459
29,32
45,68
19
52
9 10 30 1
39,44 41,40 39,23 49,00
4,693 8,099 7,731 .
1,564 2,561 1,412 .
35,84 35,61 36,35 .
43,05 47,19 42,12 .
34 26 19 49
46 51 52 49
23
45,26
6,405
1,335
42,49
48,03
28
53
17 10 51
39,18 41,90 42,65
5,833 8,660 7,113
1,415 2,738 ,996
36,18 35,71 40,65
42,18 48,09 44,65
26 22 22
48 54 54
136
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases. Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,737 ,082
df1
df2 3 2
Sig. ,540 ,921
25 47
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 284,244 1449,122 1733,367 407,842 2121,805 2529,647
df 4 25 29 3 47 50
137
Mean Square 71,061 57,965
F 1,226
Sig. ,325
135,947 45,145
3,011
,039
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... fast-slow Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Very fast Rather fast Neither fast nor slow Rather slow Very slow Total Very fast Rather fast Neither fast nor slow Rather slow Very slow Total
N 4 8 13 3 1 29 2 16 29 5 1 53
Mean 33,25 39,88 40,08 39,33 41,00 39,03 25,00 44,56 42,55 44,00 43,00 42,64
Std. Deviation 12,764 7,357 7,376 3,215 . 7,790 4,243 5,366 6,822 4,637 . 6,975
Std. Error 6,382 2,601 2,046 1,856 . 1,446 3,000 1,342 1,267 2,074 . ,958
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases. Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
138
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 12,94 53,56 33,72 46,03 35,62 44,53 31,35 47,32 . . 36,07 42,00 -13,12 63,12 41,70 47,42 39,96 45,15 38,24 49,76 . . 40,72 44,56
Minimum 19 25 29 37 41 19 22 35 26 38 43 22
Maximum 45 50 52 43 41 52 28 54 53 49 43 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 2,585 ,505
df1
df2 3 3
Sig. ,077 ,680
24 48
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 157,751 1541,215 1698,966 691,079 1839,110 2530,189
df 4 24 28 4 48 52
Mean Square 39,438 64,217
F ,614
Sig. ,657
172,770 38,315
4,509
,004
Mean Square 26,337 60,286
F ,437
Sig. ,781
111,439 45,745
2,436
,076
English is... cold-intimate
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,773 1,274
df1
df2 4 3
Sig. ,553 ,294
24 48
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 105,348 1446,859 1552,207 334,318 2195,739 2530,058
df 4 24 28 3 48 51
139
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... gentle-harsh Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,480 ,677
df1
df2 4 4
Sig. ,238 ,611
25 48
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 468,264 1239,603 1707,867 138,303 2391,885 2530,189
df 4 25 29 4 48 52
Mean Square 117,066 49,584
F 2,361
Sig. ,081
34,576 49,831
,694
,600
Mean Square 33,361 55,013
F ,606
Sig. ,552
90,822 45,770
1,984
,148
English is... useless-useful Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,624 ,399
df1
df2 2 1
Sig. ,543 ,530
28 52
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 66,722 1540,375 1607,097 181,644 2380,065 2561,709
df 2 28 30 2 52 54
140
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... educated-uneducated Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Very educated Rather educated Neither educated nor uneducated Rather uneducated Total Very educated Rather educated Neither educated nor uneducated Rather uneducated Very uneducated Total
N
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 35,11 43,00 35,12 48,60
18 7
Mean 39,06 41,86
Std. Deviation 7,937 7,290
Std. Error 1,871 2,755
Minimum 19 34
Maximum 50 52
4
37,75
6,946
3,473
26,70
48,80
29
46
1 30 16 15
37,00 39,47 45,19 43,27
. 7,417 5,332 6,053
. 1,354 1,333 1,563
. 36,70 42,35 39,91
. 42,24 48,03 46,62
37 19 35 28
37 52 54 52
13
39,77
7,683
2,131
35,13
44,41
26
50
6 1 51
42,33 22,00 42,45
5,502 . 6,987
2,246 . ,978
36,56 . 40,49
48,11 . 44,42
35 22 22
51 22 54
141
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases. Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,171 1,226
df1
df2 2 3
Sig. ,844 ,311
26 46
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 60,915 1534,552 1595,467 641,616 1799,012 2440,627
df 3 26 29 4 46 50
142
Mean Square 20,305 59,021
F ,344
Sig. ,794
160,404 39,109
4,101
,006
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... unpopular-popular Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
N
Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular Very popular Total Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular Very popular Total
Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error
df1
6,364
4,500
-23,68
90,68
29
38
3 27 32
36,33 39,63 38,94
2,082 7,938 7,577
1,202 1,528 1,339
31,16 36,49 36,21
41,50 42,77 41,67
34 19 19
38 52 52
6
38,50
5,282
2,156
32,96
44,04
31
43
6 43 55
37,17 43,84 42,53
7,360 6,561 6,888
3,005 1,001 ,929
29,44 41,82 40,67
44,89 45,86 44,39
28 22 22
47 54 54
df2 2 2
Maximum
33,50
Overall score Levene Statistic 1,197 ,217
Minimum
2
Test of Homogeneity of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound
29 52
Sig. ,317 ,806
143
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 92,412 1687,463 1779,875 343,515 2218,194 2561,709
df 2 29 31 2 52 54
Mean Square 46,206 58,188
F ,794
Sig. ,462
171,758 42,658
4,026
,024
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
(I) English is... unpopular-popular Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular
Very popular
(J) English is... unpopular-popular Rather popular Very popular Neither unpopular nor popular Very popular Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular
Mean Difference (I-J) 1,333 -5,337
Std. Error 3,771 2,846
Sig. ,725 ,066
-1,333
3,771
,725
-8,90
6,23
-6,671*
2,846
,023
-12,38
-,96
5,337
2,846
,066
-,37
11,05
6,671*
2,846
,023
,96
12,38
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
144
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -6,23 8,90 -11,05 ,37
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
(I) English is... unpopular-popular Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular
Very popular
(J) English is... unpopular-popular Rather popular Very popular Neither unpopular nor popular Very popular Neither unpopular nor popular Rather popular
Mean Difference (I-J) 1,333 -5,337
Std. Error 3,771 2,846
Sig. 1,000 ,199
-1,333
3,771
1,000
-10,66
8,00
-6,671
2,846
,069
-13,71
,37
5,337
2,846
,199
-1,70
12,38
6,671
2,846
,069
-,37
13,71
145
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -8,00 10,66 -12,38 1,70
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: English is... easy-difficult Descriptives Overall score
N
Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Total
Mean 34,89 32,81 26,32 21,82 27,33 27,99
9 31 22 28 3 93
Std. Deviation 13,642 10,320 10,540 9,202 11,846 11,354
Std. Error 4,547 1,853 2,247 1,739 6,839 1,177
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 24,40 45,38 29,02 36,59 21,65 30,99 18,25 25,39 -2,09 56,76 25,65 30,33
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,991
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,417
88
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 2275,715 9583,274 11858,989
df 4 88 92
Mean Square 568,929 108,901
F 5,224
Sig. ,001
146
Minimum 15 14 10 6 20 6
Maximum 50 48 46 39 41 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) 2,082 8,571* 13,067* 7,556 -2,082 6,488* 10,985* 5,473 -8,571* -6,488* 4,497 -1,015 -13,067* -10,985* -4,497 -5,512 -7,556 -5,473 1,015 5,512
Std. Error 3,951 4,129 3,999 6,957 3,951 2,909 2,721 6,310 4,129 2,909 2,973 6,423 3,999 2,721 2,973 6,340 6,957 6,310 6,423 6,340
Sig. ,600 ,041 ,002 ,280 ,600 ,028 ,000 ,388 ,041 ,028 ,134 ,875 ,002 ,000 ,134 ,387 ,280 ,388 ,875 ,387
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
147
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -5,77 9,93 ,36 16,78 5,12 21,01 -6,27 21,38 -9,93 5,77 ,71 12,27 5,58 16,39 -7,07 18,01 -16,78 -,36 -12,27 -,71 -1,41 10,41 -13,78 11,75 -21,01 -5,12 -16,39 -5,58 -10,41 1,41 -18,11 7,09 -21,38 6,27 -18,01 7,07 -11,75 13,78 -7,09 18,11
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
(I) English is... easy-difficult Very easy
Rather easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Rather difficult
Very difficult
(J) English is... easy-difficult Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Rather difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Very difficult Very easy Rather easy Neither easy nor difficult Rather difficult
Mean Difference (I-J) 2,082 8,571 13,067* 7,556 -2,082 6,488 10,985* 5,473 -8,571 -6,488 4,497 -1,015 -13,067* -10,985* -4,497 -5,512 -7,556 -5,473 1,015 5,512
Std. Error 3,951 4,129 3,999 6,957 3,951 2,909 2,721 6,310 4,129 2,909 2,973 6,423 3,999 2,721 2,973 6,340 6,957 6,310 6,423 6,340
Sig. 1,000 ,408 ,015 1,000 1,000 ,283 ,001 1,000 ,408 ,283 1,000 1,000 ,015 ,001 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
148
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -9,30 13,46 -3,32 20,46 1,55 24,58 -12,48 27,59 -13,46 9,30 -1,89 14,87 3,15 18,82 -12,70 23,64 -20,46 3,32 -14,87 1,89 -4,06 13,06 -19,51 17,48 -24,58 -1,55 -18,82 -3,15 -13,06 4,06 -23,77 12,74 -27,59 12,48 -23,64 12,70 -17,48 19,51 -12,74 23,77
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... rough-smooth Descriptives Overall score
N
Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Total
Mean 23,00 21,00 29,08 31,39 41,67 28,28
2 17 48 18 3 88
Std. Deviation 2,828 9,104 11,255 11,423 5,686 11,382
Std. Error 2,000 2,208 1,625 2,692 3,283 1,213
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound -2,41 48,41 16,32 25,68 25,82 32,35 25,71 37,07 27,54 55,79 25,87 30,70
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,624
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,176
83
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1699,287 9570,611 11269,898
df 4 83 87
Mean Square 424,822 115,309
F 3,684
Sig. ,008
149
Minimum 21 9 6 14 37 6
Maximum 25 33 48 50 48 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
(I) English is... rough-smooth Very rough
Rather rough
Neither rough nor smooth
Rather smooth
Very smooth
(J) English is... rough-smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth
Mean Difference (I-J) 2,000 -6,083 -8,389 -18,667 -2,000 -8,083* -10,389* -20,667* 6,083 8,083* -2,306 -12,583 8,389 10,389* 2,306 -10,278 18,667 20,667* 12,583 10,278
Std. Error 8,027 7,750 8,004 9,803 8,027 3,031 3,632 6,725 7,750 3,031 2,968 6,390 8,004 3,632 2,968 6,696 9,803 6,725 6,390 6,696
Sig. ,804 ,435 ,298 ,060 ,804 ,009 ,005 ,003 ,435 ,009 ,439 ,052 ,298 ,005 ,439 ,129 ,060 ,003 ,052 ,129
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
150
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -13,97 17,97 -21,50 9,33 -24,31 7,53 -38,16 ,83 -17,97 13,97 -14,11 -2,06 -17,61 -3,17 -34,04 -7,29 -9,33 21,50 2,06 14,11 -8,21 3,60 -25,29 ,13 -7,53 24,31 3,17 17,61 -3,60 8,21 -23,60 3,04 -,83 38,16 7,29 34,04 -,13 25,29 -3,04 23,60
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
(I) English is... rough-smooth Very rough
Rather rough
Neither rough nor smooth
Rather smooth
Very smooth
(J) English is... rough-smooth Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Rather smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Very smooth Very rough Rather rough Neither rough nor smooth Rather smooth
Mean Difference (I-J) 2,000 -6,083 -8,389 -18,667 -2,000 -8,083 -10,389 -20,667* 6,083 8,083 -2,306 -12,583 8,389 10,389 2,306 -10,278 18,667 20,667* 12,583 10,278
Std. Error 8,027 7,750 8,004 9,803 8,027 3,031 3,632 6,725 7,750 3,031 2,968 6,390 8,004 3,632 2,968 6,696 9,803 6,725 6,390 6,696
Sig. 1,000 1,000 1,000 ,603 1,000 ,092 ,053 ,029 1,000 ,092 1,000 ,523 1,000 ,053 1,000 1,000 ,603 ,029 ,523 1,000
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
151
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -21,15 25,15 -28,43 16,27 -31,47 14,69 -46,94 9,60 -25,15 21,15 -16,82 ,66 -20,86 ,08 -40,06 -1,27 -16,27 28,43 -,66 16,82 -10,86 6,25 -31,01 5,85 -14,69 31,47 -,08 20,86 -6,25 10,86 -29,59 9,03 -9,60 46,94 1,27 40,06 -5,85 31,01 -9,03 29,59
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... precise-loose Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,406
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,804
83
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 543,138 10726,760 11269,898
df 4 83 87
Mean Square 135,784 129,238
F 1,051
Sig. ,386
F 1,989
Sig. ,103
F 4,490
Sig. ,002
English is... clumsy-elegant Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,813
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,521
85
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 982,873 10498,727 11481,600
df 4 85 89
Mean Square 245,718 123,514
English is... fast-slow Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 2,848
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,042
87
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 2000,194 9688,241 11688,435
df 4 87 91
Mean Square 500,048 111,359
152
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... cold-intimate Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,145
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,341
83
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 659,289 10597,030 11256,318
df 4 83 87
Mean Square 164,822 127,675
F 1,291
Sig. ,280
F 1,744
Sig. ,148
English is... gentle-harsh Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,585
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,186
83
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 872,913 10383,405 11256,318
df 4 83 87
Mean Square 218,228 125,101
153
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... useless-useful Descriptives Overall score
N
Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Total
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 4,09 37,41 15,27 37,23
4 4
Mean 20,75 26,25
Std. Deviation 10,468 6,898
Std. Error 5,234 3,449
22
21,41
9,480
2,021
17,21
17 42 89
27,47 33,05 28,25
12,679 10,119 11,370
3,075 1,561 1,205
20,95 29,89 25,85
Mean Square 561,901 108,678
F 5,170
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,381
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,248
84
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 2247,604 9128,958 11376,562
df 4 84 88
Sig. ,001
154
Minimum 9 16
Maximum 33 31
25,61
10
43
33,99 36,20 30,64
6 13 6
45 50 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score LSD
(I) English is... useless-useful Very useless
Rather useless
Neither useless nor useful
Rather useful
Very useful
(J) English is... useless-useful Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Very useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Rather useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful
Mean Difference (I-J) -5,500
Std. Error 7,372
Sig. ,458
-,659
5,667
,908
-11,93
10,61
-6,721 -12,298* 5,500
5,793 5,455 7,372
,249 ,027 ,458
-18,24 -23,15 -9,16
4,80 -1,45 20,16
4,841
5,667
,395
-6,43
16,11
-1,221 -6,798 ,659 -4,841 -6,061 -11,639* 6,721 1,221
5,793 5,455 5,667 5,667 3,366 2,744 5,793 5,793
,834 ,216 ,908 ,395 ,075 ,000 ,249 ,834
-12,74 -17,65 -10,61 -16,11 -12,76 -17,09 -4,80 -10,30
10,30 4,05 11,93 6,43 ,63 -6,18 18,24 12,74
6,061
3,366
,075
-,63
12,76
-5,577 12,298* 6,798
2,997 5,455 5,455
,066 ,027 ,216
-11,54 1,45 -4,05
,38 23,15 17,65
11,639*
2,744
,000
6,18
17,09
5,577
2,997
,066
-,38
11,54
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -20,16 9,16
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
155
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall score Bonferroni
(I) English is... useless-useful Very useless
Rather useless
Neither useless nor useful
Rather useful
Very useful
(J) English is... useless-useful Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Very useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Rather useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Very useful Very useless Rather useless Neither useless nor useful Rather useful
Mean Difference (I-J) -5,500
Std. Error 7,372
Sig. 1,000
-,659
5,667
1,000
-17,00
15,68
-6,721 -12,298 5,500
5,793 5,455 7,372
1,000 ,268 1,000
-23,42 -28,02 -15,75
9,98 3,43 26,75
4,841
5,667
1,000
-11,50
21,18
-1,221 -6,798 ,659 -4,841 -6,061 -11,639* 6,721 1,221
5,793 5,455 5,667 5,667 3,366 2,744 5,793 5,793
1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 ,754 ,001 1,000 1,000
-17,92 -22,52 -15,68 -21,18 -15,77 -19,55 -9,98 -15,48
15,48 8,93 17,00 11,50 3,64 -3,73 23,42 17,92
6,061
3,366
,754
-3,64
15,77
-5,577 12,298 6,798
2,997 5,455 5,455
,662 ,268 1,000
-14,22 -3,43 -8,93
3,06 28,02 22,52
11,639*
2,744
,001
3,73
19,55
5,577
2,997
,662
-3,06
14,22
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -26,75 15,75
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
156
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
English is... educated-uneducated Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 1,392
df1
df2 3
Sig. ,251
82
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1007,084 10209,146 11216,230
df 4 82 86
Mean Square 251,771 124,502
F 2,022
Sig. ,099
F 1,430
Sig. ,231
English is... unpopular-popular Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic 3,084
df1
df2 4
Sig. ,020
83
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 725,509 10530,809 11256,318
df 4 83 87
Mean Square 181,377 126,877
157
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.2.c: Attitudes towards English as school subject in relation to English proficiency Bivariate Copenhagen: Descriptives Overall score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
The most The same Less Total The most The same Less Total
N 7 23 1 31 22 29 5 56
Mean 44,29 38,30 26,00 39,26 42,45 41,52 32,60 41,09
Std. Deviation 4,751 7,289 . 7,479 7,854 8,501 10,968 8,745
Std. Error 1,796 1,520 . 1,343 1,675 1,579 4,905 1,169
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 39,89 48,68 35,15 41,46 . . 36,51 42,00 38,97 45,94 38,28 44,75 18,98 46,22 38,75 43,43
158
Minimum 38 19 26 19 21 22 15 15
Maximum 51 52 26 52 52 54 42 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases.
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,613 ,635
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
df1
df2 1 2
Sig. ,440 ,534
28 53
ANOVA Overall score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Sum of Squares 373,637 1304,298 1677,935 406,658 3799,896 4206,554
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
L2 learners
df 2 28 30 2 53 55
Mean Square 186,819 46,582
F 4,011
Sig. ,029
203,329 71,696
2,836
,068
Nuuk: Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall score Levene Statistic ,210
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,811
92
ANOVA Overall score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 297,621 11664,105 11961,726
df 2 92 94
Mean Square 148,811 126,784
159
F 1,174
Sig. ,314
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
D.2.2.d Attitudes towards the English classroom situation in relation to English proficiency Univariate Copenhagen: I like speaking and answering questions in our English class L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 22 10 32 35 24 59
Percent 68,8 31,3 100,0 59,3 40,7 100,0
Valid Percent 68,8 31,3 100,0 59,3 40,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 68,8 100,0 59,3 100,0
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 11 21 32 22 37 59
Percent 34,4 65,6 100,0 37,3 62,7 100,0
Valid Percent 34,4 65,6 100,0 37,3 62,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 34,4 100,0 37,3 100,0
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 7 25 32 20 39 59
Percent 21,9 78,1 100,0 33,9 66,1 100,0
Valid Percent 21,9 78,1 100,0 33,9 66,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 21,9 100,0 33,9 100,0
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Valid Valid
No Yes No Total
Frequency 32 13 46 59
Percent 100,0 22,0 78,0 100,0
160
Valid Percent 100,0 22,0 78,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 100,0 22,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 5 27 32 17 42 59
Percent 15,6 84,4 100,0 28,8 71,2 100,0
Valid Percent 15,6 84,4 100,0 28,8 71,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 15,6 100,0 28,8 100,0
Level of anxiety L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 Total 0 1 2 3 Total
Frequency 24 4 4 32 30 15 7 7 59
Percent 75,0 12,5 12,5 100,0 50,8 25,4 11,9 11,9 100,0
161
Valid Percent 75,0 12,5 12,5 100,0 50,8 25,4 11,9 11,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 75,0 87,5 100,0 50,8 76,3 88,1 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: I like speaking and answering questions in our English class
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 40 56 96
Percent 41,7 58,3 100,0
Valid Percent 41,7 58,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 41,7 100,0
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 35 61 96
Percent 36,5 63,5 100,0
Valid Percent 36,5 63,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 36,5 100,0
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 35 61 96
Percent 36,5 63,5 100,0
Valid Percent 36,5 63,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 36,5 100,0
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 9 87 96
Percent 9,4 90,6 100,0
Valid Percent 9,4 90,6 100,0
Cumulative Percent 9,4 100,0
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do
Valid
Yes No Total
Frequency 20 76 96
Percent 20,8 79,2 100,0
Valid Percent 20,8 79,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 20,8 100,0
Level of anxiety
Valid
0 1 2 3 Total
Frequency 43 43 9 1 96
Percent 44,8 44,8 9,4 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 44,8 44,8 9,4 1,0 100,0
162
Cumulative Percent 44,8 89,6 99,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No Yes No
N 22 10 35 24
Mean 40,09 36,40 42,97 38,46
Std. Deviation 5,706 10,554 6,750 10,202
Std. Error Mean 1,217 3,337 1,141 2,083
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F 5,205
6,454
Sig. ,030
,014
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
1,291
30
,207
3,691
2,859
-2,149
9,530
1,039
11,464
,320
3,691
3,552
-4,089
11,471
2,047
57
,045
4,513
2,204
,099
8,927
1,901
36,645
,065
4,513
2,375
-,300
9,326
163
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our YesEnglish class No Yes No
N
Mean 42,45 37,10 44,41 39,19
11 21 22 37
Std. Deviation 7,230 7,245 6,815 8,947
Std. Error Mean 2,180 1,581 1,453 1,471
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
Sig.
,000
t
1,000
1,281
t-test for Equality of Means
,262
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
1,989
30
,056
5,359
2,695
-,144
10,863
1,990
20,457
,060
5,359
2,693
-,250
10,969
2,357
57
,022
5,220
2,215
,785
9,655
2,525
53,389
,015
5,220
2,067
1,074
9,366
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class Yes No Yes No
N 7 25 20 39
Mean 34,86 40,08 38,85 42,31
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation 9,974 6,563 8,536 8,414
164
Std. Error Mean 3,770 1,313 1,909 1,347
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
1,309
t
,262
,204
,654
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
-1,657
30
,108
-5,223
3,153
-11,662
1,216
-1,308
7,516
,229
-5,223
3,992
-14,532
4,086
-1,487
57
,143
-3,458
2,325
-8,114
1,199
-1,480
37,940
,147
-3,458
2,336
-8,188
1,272
Warnings No statistics are computed for a split file in the Independent Samples table. The split file is: L3 or L2 learners=L3 learners.
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when Yes I speak English No Yes No
N
0a 32 13 46
Mean . 38,94 38,38 41,91
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation . 7,577 8,078 8,594
a. t cannot be computed because at least one of the groups is empty.
165
Std. Error Mean . 1,339 2,240 1,267
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Testa Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
Overall score
F
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
,130
t
,720
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-1,323
57
,191
-3,528
2,666
-8,867
1,810
-1,371
20,349
,185
-3,528
2,574
-8,892
1,835
a. No statistics are computed for one or more split files Group Statistics
Overall score
I always feel that the other pupils speak better Yes English than I do
N
Mean 37,59 42,57
17 42
No
Std. Error Mean 1,925 1,303
Std. Deviation 7,938 8,445
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,026
Sig. ,872
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-2,087
57
,041
-4,983
2,388
-9,764
-,202
-2,144
31,445
,040
-4,983
2,325
-9,722
-,245
166
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Correlations L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall test score
Level of anxiety
L2 learners
Overall test score
Level of anxiety
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Overall test score 1 32 -,411* ,019 32 1
Level of anxiety -,411* ,019 32 1
59 -,273* ,036 59
32 -,273* ,036 59 1 59
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall score
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No
N 40 56
Mean 31,35 25,59
Std. Deviation 10,918 11,024
Std. Error Mean 1,726 1,473
167
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
Sig.
,017
,895
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
2,534
94
,013
5,761
2,273
1,247
10,274
2,538
84,648
,013
5,761
2,269
1,248
10,273
Group Statistics
Overall score
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our YesEnglish class No
N 35 61
Mean 30,80 26,38
Std. Deviation 11,616 10,866
Std. Error Mean 1,963 1,391
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,442
Sig. ,508
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
1,872
94
,064
4,423
2,363
-,269
9,115
1,838
67,124
,070
4,423
2,406
-,380
9,226
168
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Group Statistics
Overall score
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class Yes No
N
Mean 25,49 29,43
35 61
Std. Error Mean 1,765 1,484
Std. Deviation 10,441 11,587
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
Sig.
,404
t-test for Equality of Means
t
,527
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
-1,661
94
,100
-3,941
2,372
-8,650
,769
-1,709
77,184
,091
-3,941
2,306
-8,531
,650
Group Statistics
Overall score
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when Yes I speak English No
N 9 87
Mean 24,78 28,32
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation 11,088 11,320
Std. Error Mean 3,696 1,214
169
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
F
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
,098
t
,754
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-,896
94
,373
-3,544
3,957
-11,401
4,313
-,911
9,808
,384
-3,544
3,890
-12,235
5,147
Group Statistics
Overall score
I always feel that the other pupils speak better Yes English than I do
N
Mean 23,85 29,08
20 76
No
Std. Error Mean 2,227 1,311
Std. Deviation 9,959 11,425
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F 1,538
Sig. ,218
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-1,867
94
,065
-5,229
2,801
-10,790
,332
-2,024
33,423
,051
-5,229
2,584
-10,484
,026
170
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Correlations
Overall test score
Level of anxiety
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
Overall test score 1 96 -,252* ,013 96
Level of anxiety -,252* ,013 96 1 96
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
D.2.2.e: Attitudes towards language learning in general in relation to English proficiency Univariate Copenhagen: Like learning new languages L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Yes No Total I don't know Yes No Total I don't know No response Total
Total
Frequency 27 1 28 4 32 40 6 46 12 1 13 59
Percent 84,4 3,1 87,5 12,5 100,0 67,8 10,2 78,0 20,3 1,7 22,0 100,0
Valid Percent 96,4 3,6 100,0
87,0 13,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 96,4 100,0
87,0 100,0
Important to know other languages L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Yes No Total I don't know Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 30 1 31 1 32 50 4 54 5 59
171
Percent 93,8 3,1 96,9 3,1 100,0 84,7 6,8 91,5 8,5 100,0
Valid Percent 96,8 3,2 100,0
92,6 7,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 96,8 100,0
92,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Visit another country L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Yes No Total I don't know Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 25 4 29 3 32 48 1 49 10 59
Percent 78,1 12,5 90,6 9,4 100,0 81,4 1,7 83,1 16,9 100,0
Valid Percent 86,2 13,8 100,0
98,0 2,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 86,2 100,0
98,0 100,0
Plan to stay in another country L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid Missing Total Valid
Missing Total
Yes I don't know Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 31 1 32 54 2 56 3 59
172
Percent 96,9 3,1 100,0 91,5 3,4 94,9 5,1 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0
96,4 3,6 100,0
Cumulative Percent 100,0
96,4 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Like learning new languages
Valid
Missing Total
Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 84 4 88 8 96
Percent 87,5 4,2 91,7 8,3 100,0
Valid Percent 95,5 4,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 95,5 100,0
Important to know other languages
Valid
Missing Total
Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 78 4 82 14 96
Percent 81,3 4,2 85,4 14,6 100,0
Valid Percent 95,1 4,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 95,1 100,0
Visit another country
Valid
Missing
Yes No Total I don't know No response Total
Total
Frequency 68 5 73 22 1 23 96
Percent 70,8 5,2 76,0 22,9 1,0 24,0 100,0
Valid Percent 93,2 6,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 93,2 100,0
Plan to stay in another country
Valid
Missing Total
Yes No Total I don't know
Frequency 84 1 85 11 96
Percent 87,5 1,0 88,5 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 98,8 1,2 100,0
173
Cumulative Percent 98,8 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
Like learning new languages Yes No Yes No
N
Mean 38,78 52,00 41,85 34,17
27 1 40 6
Std. Deviation 7,792 . 7,326 13,273
Std. Error Mean 1,500 . 1,158 5,419
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig. .
7,181
t .
,010
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-1,666
26
,108
-13,222
7,935
-29,533
3,089
.
.
.
-13,222
.
.
.
2,135
44
,038
7,683
3,599
,430
14,937
1,387
5,466
,219
7,683
5,541
-6,203
21,569
174
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
Important to know other languages Yes No Yes No
N 30 1 50 4
Mean 38,53 52,00 41,88 38,75
Std. Error Mean 1,358 . 1,080 8,045
Std. Deviation 7,436 . 7,634 16,091
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig. .
t .
5,015
,029
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
-1,782
29
,085
-13,467
7,559
-28,926
1,993
.
.
.
-13,467
.
.
.
,721
52
,474
3,130
4,343
-5,584
11,844
,386
3,109
,725
3,130
8,118
-22,199
28,459
Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
Visit another country Yes No Yes No
N 25 4 48 1
Mean 37,88 43,25 41,71 42,00
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation 7,634 6,397 8,870 .
175
Std. Error Mean 1,527 3,198 1,280 .
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
,188
t
,668
.
.
df
,195
-5,370
4,042
-13,664
2,924
-1,515
4,494
,197
-5,370
3,544
-14,798
4,058
-,033
47
,974
-,292
8,962
-18,321
17,738
.
.
.
-,292
.
.
.
Group Statistics
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
N 31 0a 54 2
Mean 39,26 . 42,35 29,50
Std. Error Difference
27
No statistics are computed for a split file in the Independent Samples table. The split file is: L3 or L2 learners=L3 learners.
Plan to stay in another country Yes No Yes No
Mean Difference
-1,328
Warnings
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Sig. (2-tailed)
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation 7,479 . 7,277 20,506
a. t cannot be computed because at least one of the groups is empty.
176
Std. Error Mean 1,343 . ,990 14,500
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Testa Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L2 learners
Overall score
F
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
6,819
t
,012
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
2,309
54
,025
12,852
5,566
1,692
24,012
,884
1,009
,538
12,852
14,534
-167,824
193,528
a. No statistics are computed for one or more split files
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall score
Like learning new languages Yes No
N 84 4
Mean 28,33 25,00
Std. Deviation 11,232 13,292
Std. Error Mean 1,225 6,646
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,001
Sig. ,980
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
,576
86
,566
3,333
5,788
-8,173
14,840
,493
3,207
,654
3,333
6,758
-17,408
24,074
177
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Group Statistics
Overall score
Important to know other languages Yes No
N 78 4
Mean 28,79 25,75
Std. Error Mean 1,254 6,263
Std. Deviation 11,075 12,527
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
Sig.
,130
,719
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
,533
80
,595
3,045
5,707
-8,313
14,403
,477
3,245
,664
3,045
6,388
-16,442
22,531
Group Statistics
Overall score
Visit another country Yes No
N 68 5
Mean 27,99 24,80
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
Std. Deviation 11,167 11,054
Std. Error Mean 1,354 4,944
178
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig.
,013
t
,909
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
,616
71
,540
3,185
5,171
-7,126
13,497
,621
4,621
,564
3,185
5,126
-10,323
16,693
Group Statistics
Overall score
Plan to stay in another country Yes No
N
Mean 28,67 16,00
84 1
Std. Deviation 11,219 .
Std. Error Mean 1,224 .
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F
t-test for Equality of Means
Sig. .
t .
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
1,122
83
,265
12,667
11,285
-9,780
35,113
.
.
.
12,667
.
.
.
179
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Sub-hypothesis D.3: Orientation Univariate Copenhagen: I think that learning English can be important to me... L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Valid
Missing Total Valid
Missing
because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people because it will improve my education because I think it will someday be useful in getting a good job because it will enable me to better understand English-speaking people and cultures Total Invalid because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people because it will improve my education because I think it will someday be useful in getting a good job because it will enable me to better understand English-speaking people and cultures I don't think it is important to learn English Total Invalid No response Total
Total
180
Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
14
43,8
48,3
48,3
8
25,0
27,6
75,9
4
12,5
13,8
89,7
3
9,4
10,3
100,0
29 3 32
90,6 9,4 100,0
100,0
16
27,1
39,0
39,0
5
8,5
12,2
51,2
9
15,3
22,0
73,2
10
16,9
24,4
97,6
1
1,7
2,4
100,0
41 16 2 18 59
69,5 27,1 3,4 30,5 100,0
100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Integrative or instrumental orientation L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Missing
Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation Total Invalid Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation Total Invalid Learning English is not important No response Total
Frequency 17 12 29 3 32 26 14 40 16
Percent 53,1 37,5 90,6 9,4 100,0 44,1 23,7 67,8 27,1
1
1,7
2 19 59
3,4 32,2 100,0
Total
Valid Percent 58,6 41,4 100,0
65,0 35,0 100,0
Nuuk: I think that learning English can be important to me...
Valid
Missing Total
because it will allow me to meet and communicate with lots of interesting people because it will improve my education because I think it will someday be useful in getting a good job because it will enable me to better understand English-speaking people and cultures I don't think it is important to learn English Total Invalid
Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
22
22,9
26,5
26,5
11
11,5
13,3
39,8
28
29,2
33,7
73,5
19
19,8
22,9
96,4
3
3,1
3,6
100,0
83 13 96
86,5 13,5 100,0
100,0
181
Cumulative Percent 58,6 100,0
65,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Integrative or instrumental orientation
Valid
Missing
Total
Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation Total Learning English is not important Invalid Total
Frequency 41 39 80
Percent 42,7 40,6 83,3
3
3,1
13 16 96
13,5 16,7 100,0
182
Valid Percent 51,3 48,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 51,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
Integrative or instrumental orientation Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation
N
Mean 39,82 36,75 44,27 40,86
17 12 26 14
Std. Deviation 6,454 8,635 5,127 10,129
Std. Error Mean 1,565 2,493 1,005 2,707
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F 1,533
9,816
Sig. ,226
,003
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
1,099
27
,282
3,074
2,798
-2,667
8,814
1,044
19,320
,309
3,074
2,944
-3,080
9,227
1,422
38
,163
3,412
2,399
-1,445
8,269
1,182
16,669
,254
3,412
2,888
-2,690
9,514
183
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall score
Integrative or instrumental orientation Integrative orientation Instrumental orientation
N
Mean 27,85 27,38
41 39
Std. Deviation 11,842 10,779
Std. Error Mean 1,849 1,726
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,538
Sig. ,465
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
,185
78
,854
,469
2,536
-4,579
5,517
,185
77,854
,853
,469
2,530
-4,567
5,505
184
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis E: Usage and exposure ________________________________________________________________________________ Sub-hypothesis E.1: Usage of English Univariate Copenhagen: Number of persons English is regularly spoken with L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 Total 0 1 2 Total
Frequency 29 3 32 52 6 1 59
Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0 88,1 10,2 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 90,6 9,4 100,0 88,1 10,2 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 90,6 100,0 88,1 98,3 100,0
Number of situations in which English is thought in L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
0 1 2 3 5 Total 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Frequency 23 5 2 1 1 32 46 8 2 1 1 1 59
Percent 71,9 15,6 6,3 3,1 3,1 100,0 78,0 13,6 3,4 1,7 1,7 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 71,9 15,6 6,3 3,1 3,1 100,0 78,0 13,6 3,4 1,7 1,7 1,7 100,0
Nuuk: Number of persons English is regularly spoken with
Valid
0 1 2 3 Total
Frequency 81 10 3 2 96
Percent 84,4 10,4 3,1 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 84,4 10,4 3,1 2,1 100,0
185
Cumulative Percent 84,4 94,8 97,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 71,9 87,5 93,8 96,9 100,0 78,0 91,5 94,9 96,6 98,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Number of situations in which English is thought in
Valid
0 1 2 3 4 Total
Frequency 57 27 7 1 4 96
Percent 59,4 28,1 7,3 1,0 4,2 100,0
Valid Percent 59,4 28,1 7,3 1,0 4,2 100,0
Cumulative Percent 59,4 87,5 94,8 95,8 100,0
Bivariate Copenhagen: Correlations
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Number of persons English is regularly spoken with Number of situations in which English is thought in Overall test score
L2 learners
Number of persons English is regularly spoken with Number of situations in which English is thought in Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
186
Number of persons English is regularly spoken with 1 32 ,434*
Number of situations in which English is thought in ,434* ,013 32 1
,013
Overall test score ,161 ,379 32 ,343 ,055
32
32
32
,161 ,379 32 1
,343 ,055 32 ,123 ,355 59 1
1
59 ,123 ,355
32 ,036 ,789 59 ,149 ,260
59
59
59
,036 ,789 59
,149 ,260 59
1 59
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Correlations
Number of persons English is regularly spoken with Number of situations in which English is thought in Overall test score
Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed)
Number of persons English is regularly spoken with 1 96 ,200
Number of situations in which English is thought in ,200 ,051 96 1
Overall test score ,106 ,302 96 ,123
,051
N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N
,233
96
96
96
,106 ,302 96
,123 ,233 96
1 96
Sub-hypothesis E.2: Exposure to English Univariate Copenhagen: Films in English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Total
Frequency 25 5 2 32 55 4 59
Percent 78,1 15,6 6,3 100,0 93,2 6,8 100,0
Valid Percent 78,1 15,6 6,3 100,0 93,2 6,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 78,1 93,8 100,0 93,2 100,0
TV programmes in English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Total
Frequency 24 5 3 32 47 12 59
187
Percent 75,0 15,6 9,4 100,0 79,7 20,3 100,0
Valid Percent 75,0 15,6 9,4 100,0 79,7 20,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 75,0 90,6 100,0 79,7 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Music in English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Frequency 28 3 1 32 58 1 59
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Total
Percent 87,5 9,4 3,1 100,0 98,3 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 87,5 9,4 3,1 100,0 98,3 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 87,5 96,9 100,0 98,3 100,0
Internet in English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Valid
Frequency 16 12 4 32 36 22 1 59
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Never Total
Percent 50,0 37,5 12,5 100,0 61,0 37,3 1,7 100,0
Valid Percent 50,0 37,5 12,5 100,0 61,0 37,3 1,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 50,0 87,5 100,0 61,0 98,3 100,0
Read in English L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Valid
L2 learners
Missing Total Valid
Often Sometimes Never Total No response Often Sometimes Never Total
Frequency 4 24 3 31 1 32 8 39 12 59
Percent 12,5 75,0 9,4 96,9 3,1 100,0 13,6 66,1 20,3 100,0
Valid Percent 12,9 77,4 9,7 100,0
13,6 66,1 20,3 100,0
Nuuk: Films in English
Valid
Missing Total
Often Sometimes Never Total Invalid
Frequency 76 17 2 95 1 96
Percent 79,2 17,7 2,1 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 80,0 17,9 2,1 100,0
188
Cumulative Percent 80,0 97,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 12,9 90,3 100,0
13,6 79,7 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy TV programmes in English
Valid
Missing Total
Often Sometimes Never Total No response
Frequency 54 33 7 94 2 96
Percent 56,3 34,4 7,3 97,9 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 57,4 35,1 7,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 57,4 92,6 100,0
Music in English
Valid
Missing Total
Often Sometimes Total Invalid
Frequency 82 13 95 1 96
Percent 85,4 13,5 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 86,3 13,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 86,3 100,0
Internet in English
Valid
Missing Total
Often Sometimes Never Total Invalid
Frequency 33 55 7 95 1 96
Percent 34,4 57,3 7,3 99,0 1,0 100,0
Valid Percent 34,7 57,9 7,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 34,7 92,6 100,0
Read in English
Valid
Missing
Total
Often Sometimes Never Total Invalid No response Total
Frequency 8 59 27 94 1 1 2 96
Percent 8,3 61,5 28,1 97,9 1,0 1,0 2,1 100,0
Valid Percent 8,5 62,8 28,7 100,0
189
Cumulative Percent 8,5 71,3 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Films in English
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic ,502 ,616
df1
df2 2 1
Sig. ,611 ,436
29 57
ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 310,835 1469,040 1779,875 73,388 4159,527 4232,915
df 2 29 31 1 57 58
Mean Square 155,418 50,657
F 3,068
Sig. ,062
73,388 72,974
1,006
,320
Mean Square 175,025 49,304
F 3,550
Sig. ,042
,722 74,249
,010
,922
TV programmes in English Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 6,345 1,420
df1
df2 2 1
Sig. ,005 ,238
29 57 ANOVA
Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 350,050 1429,825 1779,875 ,722 4232,193 4232,915
df 2 29 31 1 57 58
190
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Music in English Descriptives Overall test score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Total
N 28 3 1 32 58 1 59
Mean 39,07 44,33 19,00 38,94 40,98 50,00 41,14
Std. Deviation 6,727 6,028 . 7,577 8,536 . 8,543
Std. Error 1,271 3,480 . 1,339 1,121 . 1,112
Warnings Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall test score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L3 learners because at least one group has fewer than two cases. Post hoc tests are not performed for Overall test score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because there are fewer than three groups.
Test of Homogeneity of Variancesa Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Levene Statistic ,161
df1
df2 1
29
Sig. ,691
a. Test of homogeneity of variances cannot be performed for Overall test score in split file L3 or L2 learners = L2 learners because only one group has a computed variance.
191
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 36,46 41,68 29,36 59,31 . . 36,21 41,67 38,74 43,23 . . 38,91 43,36
Minimum 25 38 19 19 15 50 15
Maximum 52 50 19 52 54 50 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 485,351 1294,524 1779,875 79,932 4152,983 4232,915
df 2 29 31 1 57 58
Mean Square 242,676 44,639
F 5,436
Sig. ,010
79,932 72,859
1,097
,299
Internet in English Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 2,865 ,580
df1
df2 2 1
29 56
Sig. ,073 ,450
192
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 245,208 1534,667 1779,875 258,847 3974,068 4232,915
df 2 29 31 2 56 58
Mean Square 122,604 52,920
F 2,317
Sig. ,117
129,424 70,966
1,824
,171
Read in English Descriptives Overall test score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Often Sometimes Never Total Often Sometimes Never Total
N 4 24 3 31 8 39 12 59
Mean 42,75 37,71 39,33 38,52 45,38 41,90 35,83 41,14
Std. Deviation 1,708 7,474 10,504 7,312 4,307 7,976 10,365 8,543
Std. Error ,854 1,526 6,064 1,313 1,523 1,277 2,992 1,112
193
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 40,03 45,47 34,55 40,86 13,24 65,43 35,83 41,20 41,77 48,98 39,31 44,48 29,25 42,42 38,91 43,36
Minimum 41 19 29 19 41 21 15 15
Maximum 45 51 50 51 51 54 47 54
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Levene Statistic 1,707 2,647
df1
df2 2 2
Sig. ,200 ,080
28 56
ANOVA Overall test score L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 89,367 1514,375 1603,742 503,784 3729,131 4232,915
df 2 28 30 2 56 58
Mean Square 44,683 54,085
F ,826
Sig. ,448
251,892 66,592
3,783
,029
194
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
LSD
(I) Read in English Often Sometimes Never
Bonferroni
Often Sometimes Never
L2 learners
LSD
Often Sometimes Never
Bonferroni
Often Sometimes Never
(J) Read in English Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes
Mean Difference (I-J) 5,042 3,417 -5,042 -1,625 -3,417 1,625 5,042 3,417 -5,042 -1,625 -3,417 1,625 3,478 9,542* -3,478 6,064* -9,542* -6,064* 3,478 9,542* -3,478 6,064 -9,542* -6,064
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
195
Std. Error 3,972 5,617 3,972 4,504 5,617 4,504 3,972 5,617 3,972 4,504 5,617 4,504 3,167 3,725 3,167 2,694 3,725 2,694 3,167 3,725 3,167 2,694 3,725 2,694
Sig. ,215 ,548 ,215 ,721 ,548 ,721 ,644 1,000 ,644 1,000 1,000 1,000 ,277 ,013 ,277 ,028 ,013 ,028 ,831 ,039 ,831 ,085 ,039 ,085
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound -3,09 13,18 -8,09 14,92 -13,18 3,09 -10,85 7,60 -14,92 8,09 -7,60 10,85 -5,07 15,16 -10,89 17,72 -15,16 5,07 -13,09 9,84 -17,72 10,89 -9,84 13,09 -2,87 9,82 2,08 17,00 -9,82 2,87 ,67 11,46 -17,00 -2,08 -11,46 -,67 -4,34 11,29 ,35 18,73 -11,29 4,34 -,58 12,71 -18,73 -,35 -12,71 ,58
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Films in English Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 6,042
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,003
92
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1048,806 10887,678 11936,484
df 2 92 94
Mean Square 524,403 118,344
F 4,431
Sig. ,015
TV programmes in English Descriptives Overall test score
Often Sometimes Never Total
N 54 33 7 94
Mean 32,19 22,64 24,57 28,27
Std. Deviation 11,006 9,185 10,179 11,222
Std. Error 1,498 1,599 3,847 1,157
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 29,18 35,19 19,38 25,89 15,16 33,99 25,97 30,56
196
Minimum 6 9 13 6
Maximum 50 41 43 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic ,757
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,472
91
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 1970,852 9741,499 11712,351
df 2 91 93
Mean Square 985,426 107,049
F 9,205
Sig. ,000
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
LSD
(I) TV programmes in English Often Sometimes Never
Bonferroni
Often Sometimes Never
(J) TV programmes in English Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes
Mean Difference (I-J) 9,549* 7,614 -9,549* -1,935 -7,614 1,935 9,549* 7,614 -9,549* -1,935 -7,614 1,935
Std. Error 2,286 4,156 2,286 4,305 4,156 4,305 2,286 4,156 2,286 4,305 4,156 4,305
Sig. ,000 ,070 ,000 ,654 ,070 ,654 ,000 ,211 ,000 1,000 ,211 1,000
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
197
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound 5,01 14,09 -,64 15,87 -14,09 -5,01 -10,49 6,62 -15,87 ,64 -6,62 10,49 3,97 15,12 -2,52 17,75 -15,12 -3,97 -12,44 8,57 -17,75 2,52 -8,57 12,44
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Music in English Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 3,555
df1
df2 1
Sig. ,062
93
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 119,654 11816,830 11936,484
df 1 93 94
Mean Square 119,654 127,063
F ,942
Sig. ,334
Internet in English Descriptives Overall test score
Often Sometimes Never Total
N 33 55 7 95
Mean 32,94 26,24 20,29 28,13
Std. Deviation 11,484 10,426 8,712 11,269
Std. Error 1,999 1,406 3,293 1,156
95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound Upper Bound 28,87 37,01 23,42 29,05 12,23 28,34 25,83 30,42
198
Minimum 10 6 9 6
Maximum 50 47 31 50
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
ANOVA Overall test score
Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic ,442
df1
df2 2
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sig. ,644
92
Sum of Squares 1391,250 10545,235 11936,484
df 2 92 94
Mean Square 695,625 114,622
Multiple Comparisons Dependent Variable: Overall test score
LSD
(I) Internet in English Often Sometimes Never
Bonferroni
Often Sometimes Never
(J) Internet in English Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes Sometimes Never Often Never Often Sometimes
Mean Difference (I-J) 6,703* 12,654* -6,703* 5,951 -12,654* -5,951 6,703* 12,654* -6,703* 5,951 -12,654* -5,951
Std. Error 2,357 4,455 2,357 4,296 4,455 4,296 2,357 4,455 2,357 4,296 4,455 4,296
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
199
Sig. ,005 ,006 ,005 ,169 ,006 ,169 ,016 ,017 ,016 ,508 ,017 ,508
95% Confidence Interval Lower Bound Upper Bound 2,02 11,39 3,81 21,50 -11,39 -2,02 -2,58 14,48 -21,50 -3,81 -14,48 2,58 ,95 12,45 1,79 23,52 -12,45 -,95 -4,53 16,43 -23,52 -1,79 -16,43 4,53
F 6,069
Sig. ,003
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Read in English Test of Homogeneity of Variances Overall test score Levene Statistic 1,216
df1
df2 2
Sig. ,301
91
ANOVA Overall test score
Between Groups Within Groups Total
Sum of Squares 326,118 11453,808 11779,926
df 2 91 93
Mean Square 163,059 125,866
200
F 1,295
Sig. ,279
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
________________________________________________________________________________
Additional findings ________________________________________________________________________________ Gender overall test score Univariate Copenhagen: Statistics: L3 learners Overall score Boy N
Girl
Valid Missing
Mean N
Valid Missing
Mean
20 0 36,65 12 0 42,75
Statistics: L2 learners Overall score Boy N
Girl
Valid Missing
Mean N
Valid Missing
Mean
33 0 42,61 26 0 39,27
Nuuk: Statistics Overall score Boy N
Girl
Mean N Mean
Valid Missing Valid Missing
51 0 28,67 45 0 27,22
201
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Group Statistics L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Overall score
L2 learners
Overall score
Gender Boy Girl Boy Girl
N
Mean 36,65 42,75 42,61 39,27
20 12 33 26
Std. Deviation 7,322 6,621 7,433 9,598
Std. Error Mean 1,637 1,911 1,294 1,882
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Overall score
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,014
2,571
Sig. ,908
,114
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
-2,362
30
,025
-6,100
2,583
-11,375
-,825
-2,424
25,207
,023
-6,100
2,517
-11,281
-,919
1,506
57
,138
3,337
2,216
-1,101
7,775
1,461
46,155
,151
3,337
2,284
-1,261
7,934
202
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Nuuk: Group Statistics
Overall score
Gender Boy Girl
N
Mean 28,67 27,22
51 45
Std. Deviation 11,075 11,603
Std. Error Mean 1,551 1,730
Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
Overall score
Equal variances assumed Equal variances not assumed
F ,000
Sig. ,996
t-test for Equality of Means
t
df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Difference
Std. Error Difference
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper
,624
94
,534
1,444
2,316
-3,155
6,044
,622
91,272
,536
1,444
2,323
-3,170
6,059
203
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Gender like English as school subject Univariate Copenhagen: I like English as school subject: L3 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Missing Total Valid
The most The same Less Total Invalid The most The same Total
Frequency 4 14 1 19 1 20 3 9 12
Percent 20,0 70,0 5,0 95,0 5,0 100,0 25,0 75,0 100,0
Valid Percent 21,1 73,7 5,3 100,0
25,0 75,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 21,1 94,7 100,0
25,0 100,0
I like English as school subject: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Missing Total
The most The same Total The most The same Less Total Invalid
Frequency 16 17 33 6 12 5 23 3 26
Percent 48,5 51,5 100,0 23,1 46,2 19,2 88,5 11,5 100,0
Valid Percent 48,5 51,5 100,0 26,1 52,2 21,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 48,5 100,0 26,1 78,3 100,0
Nuuk: I like English as school subject Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Missing Total Valid
The most The same Less Total Invalid The most The same Less Total
Frequency 13 32 5 50 1 51 9 25 11 45
Percent 25,5 62,7 9,8 98,0 2,0 100,0 20,0 55,6 24,4 100,0
204
Valid Percent 26,0 64,0 10,0 100,0
20,0 55,6 24,4 100,0
Cumulative Percent 26,0 90,0 100,0
20,0 75,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Bivariate Copenhagen: Gender * I like English as school subject Crosstabulation L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I like English as school subject The most The same Less 4 14 1 21,1% 73,7% 5,3% 3 9 0 25,0% 75,0% ,0% 7 23 1 22,6% 74,2% 3,2% 16 17 0 48,5% 51,5% ,0% 6 12 5 26,1% 52,2% 21,7% 22 29 5 39,3% 51,8% 8,9%
Total 19 100,0% 12 100,0% 31 100,0% 33 100,0% 23 100,0% 56 100,0%
Symmetric Measures L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Value -,200 31 ,556 56
Gamma Gamma
Asymp. a Std. Error ,387
Approx. T -,498
b
Approx. Sig. ,619
,191
2,519
,012
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
Nuuk: Gender * I like English as school subject Crosstabulation
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I like English as school subject The most The same Less 13 32 5 26,0% 64,0% 10,0% 9 25 11 20,0% 55,6% 24,4% 22 57 16 23,2% 60,0% 16,8%
Total 50 100,0% 45 100,0% 95 100,0%
Symmetric Measures
Ordinal by Ordinal N of Valid Cases
Gamma
Value ,283 95
Asymp. a Std. Error ,176
a. Not assuming the null hypothesis. b. Using the asymptotic standard error assuming the null hypothesis.
205
b
Approx. T 1,566
Approx. Sig. ,117
When WordsDon’t Come Easy
Gender anxiety Univariate Copenhagen: L3 learners I like speaking and answering questions in our English class: L3 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 15 5 20 7 5 12
Percent 75,0 25,0 100,0 58,3 41,7 100,0
Valid Percent 75,0 25,0 100,0 58,3 41,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 75,0 100,0 58,3 100,0
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class: L3 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 4 16 20 7 5 12
Percent 20,0 80,0 100,0 58,3 41,7 100,0
Valid Percent 20,0 80,0 100,0 58,3 41,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 20,0 100,0 58,3 100,0
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class: L3 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 4 16 20 3 9 12
Percent 20,0 80,0 100,0 25,0 75,0 100,0
Valid Percent 20,0 80,0 100,0 25,0 75,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 20,0 100,0 25,0 100,0
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English: L3 learners Gender Boy Girl
Valid Valid
No No
Frequency 20 12
Percent 100,0 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0 100,0
206
Cumulative Percent 100,0 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do: L3 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 3 17 20 2 10 12
Percent 15,0 85,0 100,0 16,7 83,3 100,0
Valid Percent 15,0 85,0 100,0 16,7 83,3 100,0
Cumulative Percent 15,0 100,0 16,7 100,0
L2 learners I like speaking and answering questions in our English class: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 24 9 33 11 15 26
Percent 72,7 27,3 100,0 42,3 57,7 100,0
Valid Percent 72,7 27,3 100,0 42,3 57,7 100,0
Cumulative Percent 72,7 100,0 42,3 100,0
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 10 23 33 12 14 26
Percent 30,3 69,7 100,0 46,2 53,8 100,0
Valid Percent 30,3 69,7 100,0 46,2 53,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 30,3 100,0 46,2 100,0
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 6 27 33 14 12 26
Percent 18,2 81,8 100,0 53,8 46,2 100,0
Valid Percent 18,2 81,8 100,0 53,8 46,2 100,0
207
Cumulative Percent 18,2 100,0 53,8 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 3 30 33 10 16 26
Percent 9,1 90,9 100,0 38,5 61,5 100,0
Valid Percent 9,1 90,9 100,0 38,5 61,5 100,0
Cumulative Percent 9,1 100,0 38,5 100,0
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do: L2 learners Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 4 29 33 13 13 26
Percent 12,1 87,9 100,0 50,0 50,0 100,0
Valid Percent 12,1 87,9 100,0 50,0 50,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 12,1 100,0 50,0 100,0
Nuuk: I like speaking and answering questions in our English class Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 26 25 51 14 31 45
Percent 51,0 49,0 100,0 31,1 68,9 100,0
Valid Percent 51,0 49,0 100,0 31,1 68,9 100,0
Cumulative Percent 51,0 100,0 31,1 100,0
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 19 32 51 16 29 45
Percent 37,3 62,7 100,0 35,6 64,4 100,0
Valid Percent 37,3 62,7 100,0 35,6 64,4 100,0
208
Cumulative Percent 37,3 100,0 35,6 100,0
When WordsDon’t Come Easy I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 16 35 51 19 26 45
Percent 31,4 68,6 100,0 42,2 57,8 100,0
Valid Percent 31,4 68,6 100,0 42,2 57,8 100,0
Cumulative Percent 31,4 100,0 42,2 100,0
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English Gender Boy Girl
Valid Valid
No Yes No Total
Frequency 51 9 36 45
Percent 100,0 20,0 80,0 100,0
Valid Percent 100,0 20,0 80,0 100,0
Cumulative Percent 100,0 20,0 100,0
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do Gender Boy
Valid
Girl
Valid
Yes No Total Yes No Total
Frequency 7 44 51 13 32 45
Percent 13,7 86,3 100,0 28,9 71,1 100,0
Valid Percent 13,7 86,3 100,0 28,9 71,1 100,0
Cumulative Percent 13,7 100,0 28,9 100,0
Bivariate Copenhagen: Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
209
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No 15 5 75,0% 25,0% 7 5 58,3% 41,7% 22 10 68,8% 31,3% 24 9 72,7% 27,3% 11 15 42,3% 57,7% 35 24 59,3% 40,7%
Total 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 33 100,0% 26 100,0% 59 100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Chi-Square Tests L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value ,970b ,349 ,955
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,325 ,555 ,328
,939
1
,332
32 5,577c 4,387 5,630
1 1 1
,018 ,036 ,018
5,482
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,438
,275
,032
,018
,019
59
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 1 cells (25,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 3,75. c. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 10,58.
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
210
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No 4 16 20,0% 80,0% 7 5 58,3% 41,7% 11 21 34,4% 65,6% 10 23 30,3% 69,7% 12 14 46,2% 53,8% 22 37 37,3% 62,7%
Total 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 33 100,0% 26 100,0% 59 100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Chi-Square Tests L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value 4,885b 3,334 4,867
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,027 ,068 ,027
4,733
1
,030
32 1,562c ,958 1,561
1 1 1
,211 ,328 ,212
1,536
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,053
,034
,280
,164
,215
59
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 1 cells (25,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 4,13. c. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 9,69.
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
211
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class Yes No 4 16 20,0% 80,0% 3 9 25,0% 75,0% 7 25 21,9% 78,1% 6 27 18,2% 81,8% 14 12 53,8% 46,2% 20 39 33,9% 66,1%
Total 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 33 100,0% 26 100,0% 59 100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Chi-Square Tests L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value ,110b ,000 ,108
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,740 1,000 ,742
,106
1
,744
32 8,255c 6,740 8,379
1 1 1
,004 ,009 ,004
8,115
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
1,000
,535
,006
,005
,004
59
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 2 cells (50,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 2,63. c. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 8,81.
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
212
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English Yes No 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 3 30 9,1% 90,9% 10 16 38,5% 61,5% 13 46 22,0% 78,0%
Total 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 33 100,0% 26 100,0% 59 100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Chi-Square Tests L3 or L2 learners L3 learners L2 learners
Pearson Chi-Square N of Valid Cases Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value
.b 32 7,302c 5,693 7,473 7,179
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
df
1 1 1 1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,011
,008
,007 ,017 ,006 ,007
59
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. No statistics are computed because I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English is a constant. c. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 5,73.
Crosstab
L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total L2 learners
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
213
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do Yes No 3 17 15,0% 85,0% 2 10 16,7% 83,3% 5 27 15,6% 84,4% 4 29 12,1% 87,9% 13 13 50,0% 50,0% 17 42 28,8% 71,2%
Total 20 100,0% 12 100,0% 32 100,0% 33 100,0% 26 100,0% 59 100,0%
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Chi-Square Tests L3 or L2 learners L3 learners
L2 learners
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value ,016b ,000 ,016
df 1 1 1
,015 32 10,173c 8,410 10,436 10,000
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,900 1,000 ,900
1
,902
1 1 1
,001 ,004 ,001
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
1,000
,634
,003
,002
,002
59
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 2 cells (50,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1,88. c. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 7,49.
Nuuk: Crosstab
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I like speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No 26 25 51,0% 49,0% 14 31 31,1% 68,9% 40 56 41,7% 58,3%
Total 51 100,0% 45 100,0% 96 100,0%
Chi-Square Tests
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value 3,883b 3,109 3,925 3,843
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,049 ,078 ,048
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,063
,039
,050
96
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 18,75.
214
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Crosstab
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I don't mind speaking and answering questions in our English class Yes No 19 32 37,3% 62,7% 16 29 35,6% 64,4% 35 61 36,5% 63,5%
Total 51 100,0% 45 100,0% 96 100,0%
Chi-Square Tests
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value ,030b ,000 ,030
df 1 1 1
,029
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,863 1,000 ,863
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
1,000
,516
,864
96
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 16,41. Crosstab
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I get nervous and confused when I speak in our English class Yes No 16 35 31,4% 68,6% 19 26 42,2% 57,8% 35 61 36,5% 63,5%
Total 51 100,0% 45 100,0% 96 100,0%
Chi-Square Tests
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value 1,215b ,792 1,215 1,202
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,270 ,374 ,270
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,295
,187
,273
96
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 16,41.
215
When WordsDon’t Come Easy Crosstab
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I am afraid that other pupils will laugh at me when I speak English Yes No 0 51 ,0% 100,0% 9 36 20,0% 80,0% 9 87 9,4% 90,6%
Total 51 100,0% 45 100,0% 96 100,0%
Chi-Square Tests
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value 11,255b 9,024 14,701
df 1 1 1
11,138
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,001 ,003 ,000
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,001
,001
,001
96
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 2 cells (50,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 4,22.
Crosstab
Gender
Boy Girl
Total
Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
I always feel that the other pupils speak better English than I do Yes No 7 44 13,7% 86,3% 13 32 28,9% 71,1% 20 76 20,8% 79,2%
Total 51 100,0% 45 100,0% 96 100,0%
Chi-Square Tests
Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correctiona Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases
Value 3,333b 2,477 3,355 3,298
df 1 1 1
Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) ,068 ,116 ,067
1
Exact Sig. (2-sided)
Exact Sig. (1-sided)
,082
,058
,069
96
a. Computed only for a 2x2 table b. 0 cells (,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 9,38.
216