抄録
Recent psycholinguistic studies show that in foreign language learning there is a significant relationship between the student's achievement and his attitude toward the people whose language he is studying and their culture. This paper deals with the American student's attitude toward foreign language study on the basis of data resulting from a questionnaire given to some 950 freshmen of the University of Illinois in October, 1969. The writer discusses 1) the student's foreign language background, 2) foreign language programs in high school, 3) the student' interest in foreign language study and degree of personal involvement in it, 4) direct feedback from the student to the teacher concerning special aspects of the instruction process, and 5) the students' attitudes toward foreign cultures. It is claimed, given the present situation in Japan, that research which relates language achievement and attitude of the learner is necessary and should be encouraged for the improvement of our foreign language education.
