A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

3.3.2 General Findings

Phase one ofthe evaluation lasted from January 1991 until the end of 1992 and
preliminary findings from this initial phase were reported as 'pupils' enjoyment of
learning a foreign language' and a widespread feeling that the projects were
producing 'encouraging results' (Low et al., 1993). Pupils who began a foreign
language at primary school seemed to have some advantage over those who
had not but researchers also claimed that any definite conclusions could not be
drawn:

"...informants were cautious about claiming general or lasting linguistic gains
although it was widely considered that some such gains had been made."
(Lowet al., 1993:41)

The final report (1995) is more specific about particular achievements and
states that the project pupils' advantage was most evident:

"...in pronunciation, intonation, complexity Ofstructure, ability to sustain
patterns of initiation and response, and readiness to use communication
strategies." (Low et al., 1995:1)

Findings reported in a later publication state that the project pupils:

"...produced somewhat larger utterances, made more use of communication
strategies, showed higher levels of motivation and were more ready to initiate
and answer in class." (Johnstone, 1996: 173)

135

<<   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   >>

More intriguing information