Målspråksanvändning i främmandespråksklassrummet på gymnasiet : Ett elevperspektiv

Sammanfattning: According to the new curriculum that was applied in 2011, foreign languages in Swedish upper secondary/high schools should essentially be taught in the target language. However, many teachers, given that they find the students struggling to keep up with such education, consider themselves trapped between two opposing demands. Thus, the aims of the present study are to examine more closely the attitudes and experiences of students towards education in the target language. The study consists of qualitative interviews with a number of students of foreign language and complementary questionnaires. The results imply that all students, regardless of their level of understanding, would like to see an increased use of target language in class. However, especially lower level students wish that instructions would be complemented with translations into their first language, and that they can ask questions in their first language. The present study shows that students rarely use the target language unless it is explicitly demanded of them. This is mainly because of a fear of making mistakes and of being judged by other students or the teacher. This study suggests that the classroom environment is a determining factor of the students’ choice of language. Hence it is absolutely crucial that the teacher creates a tolerant classroom environment. Furthermore, the teacher’s choice of language is of greatest importance to what language the students choose to use in the classroom. Thus, the more the teacher uses the target language in class, the more inclined the students are to use the target language.