La correlazione tra l’atteggiamento nei confronti di una lingua e il livello di competenza linguistica, sperimentata sugli italiani in Olanda e sugli olandesi in Italia

Abstract

This study investigates the presence of a correlation between language attitude and foreign language achievement. The group of subjects includes three Italians who live in the Netherlands and 14 Dutch people who live in Italy. All the subjects live between 2 and 12 years in the foreign country and are between 20 and 50 years old. The attitudes towards the Dutch and Italian language were measured by using a semantic differential, the data of the language achievement were measured by using a reading test, a listening comprehension test, a writing and a speaking test. The correlation coefficient between language attitude and foreign language achievement emerge to be 0,71987403, which indicates that there is a strong correlation between the two factors. Nevertheless, it’s not unlikely that they are other factors that contribute to the success in foreign language achievement.