A case study approach to the language status, motivation and attitude in both an immersion and non-immersion setting at Primary Level in Ireland.

Abstract

This project is titled; A Case Study Approach to the Language Status, Motivation and Attitude in both an Immersion and Non-immersion Setting at Primary Level Ireland, and it sets out to explore and examine the status of language, the motivational factors and attitude towards language at primary level, focusing on foreign languages (in this case, French) and Irish. Second languages, mainly Irish and French are the major focus point in the schools in this study and how the schools continued to teach French after the abolishment of the MLPSI. As these areas are so intertwined the three different aspects provide an overview of the language situation within these schools. Two schools were involved in this study, one English-medium school and the other an immersion setting, in the context of a Gaelscoil (Irish-medium school). Pupils and teachers from both settings were interviewed, and another former MLPSI teacher also took part in this study.