USE OF FRENCH, ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATIONS OF FRENCH IMMERSION STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which pupils in the French immersion and in the regular English school programs have developed activities involving the use of French and contact with French people. Their attitudes and motivations with respect to the French language and the French community were explored. The relationship between attitudes and motivations and the reported use of French outside the school setting was investigated. Results indicate that attitudes and motivations were significantly more positive and that social tolerance and self-rated competency in French were much higher in French immersion than in English program subjects.