Chinese Students' Attitudes toward English Language and Their School Performance in English

Abstract

This study investigated attitudes toward the English language of 1007 ninth-grade Chinese students and its relationship with the English performance in order to assist teachers in making learning the English language more effective for a larger group of learners. T-test was calculated to compare the means of students according to gender attitudes. Results indicated that male and female students differed in their attitudes toward English language. T-test was also calculated on the gender difference of students according to the different sources of influences. Results indicated that females and males did not differ. ANOVA indicated significant differences between different schools in language attitude. The Pearson Correlation examined the relationship between attitudes toward English language and performance in English and revealed that the high performance of Chinese students in English language was related to their positive attitudes toward it.

Ife Psychologia Vol.13(1) 2005: 1-10