Result of Page F30 reader poll on reasons for learning a language
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Perhaps spending too much time in Korea has done this to me, but I was a bit surprised by the huge majority of people that said the primary reason for learning/having learned/planning to learn their most recent language is due to simple personal interest. I'm used to meeting people that study languages for economic reasons or necessity alone, without any personal interest in the language whatsoever. Over nearly a decade in Asia I can still count on one hand the number of people that I've met that study English because they enjoy English literature or poetry. Expand it to pop culture though (sitcoms, movies, music etc.) and the numbers are much, much greater. Perhaps there's a lesson there for IAL advocates - create a sitcom or a movie and they will come perhaps. Here are the numbers from the 52 people who voted:
Economic reasons (making more money) | 3 (5%) |
Necessity (school, environment, job) | 5 (9%) |
Simple personal interest | 32 (61%) |
Demographic support (in order to promote/revive/maintain the language) | 2 (3%) |
Relatives / significant other etc. speak it | 4 (7%) |
Use during travel | 4 (7%) |
Other | 2 (3%) |
And speaking of music and pop culture, here's a song I've always liked:
More songs from that band can be heard here.
3 comments:
Such poll in your blog is seriously biased, Dave - just because most of your readers are language-lovers
You're right, but then again it is a "Page F30 reader poll". What's hard to tell is just how much the sample here varies from the general population.
Also, there is quite a bit of traffic that arrives here through some seemingly "selfish" reasons - typing search terms like "easiest language to learn" or "CIA hiring bonuses for fluent speakers" etc. into Google.
Such poll in your blog is seriously biased, Dave - just because most of your readers are language-lovers
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