to "symbolic violence" as one participant put it:
Gl: If the student hasn't got any interest in learning, then the teacher has to use
symbolic violence such as attendance roll or right to exams.
Supporting this view, T commented that learning may be opposed to enjoyment
T: During my school years I enjoyed myself a lot. However, I didn't Ieam very
much. I am starting to believe that these elements do not correlate.
Gl, however, expressed her hopes about this:
Gl: I think that we can Ieam and enjoy ourselves at the same time.
That way, we wouldn't get so bored.
In the following sections, I will analyse the participants’ beliefs about learning in
relation to other elements.
6.2.2 Beliefs about learning a language
For most of the students it was clear that the process of learning a language
suggests specific features. Their personal experience on this matter allowed them to
identify some characteristics of their concept of learning a language. The following
paragraphs deal with the most recurrent ones:
a) Language learning and the need of a base
With regards to learning a language, most of them expressed that to start learning
a foreign language, a "good base" is very important. However, the way they use this term
suggests different meanings. For some the base is provided by the presence of a teacher:
Ga: a base is necessary, if not there is chaos. The teacher provides that base
S: You need a guide to start with, to provide you with the essentials
For others this base is the book:
Gl: it is good to have a textbook as a base
A basis is not only related to the resources but to the actual content of the
teaching∕leaming situation. Thus, a base also means knowledge of grammar:
S: Grammar is essential. If there was no grammar it would be impossible to
communicate. It is the guide, the reference point that tells us the way to go. It is
necessary to know the grammar categories.
For some a good base may be provided through the use of the mother tongue:
Ga: the teacher only spoke English. We didn't even understand a
"Pay attention". We knew neither what she was saying nor what we had