FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: EXPLORING THE STRUGGLES OF FILIPINO STUDENTS IN LEARNING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE
Keywords:
Foreign language learning, Spanish language, Struggles, Filipino
Abstract
Learning and knowing a foreign language has become an advantage and a valuable skill, particularly for students seeking more job opportunities after graduation. The Spanish language, which is the fourth most spoken language in the world, is a popular foreign language for students to learn. However, studies have demonstrated that learning Spanish offers significant struggles to learners from varied backgrounds and that there is a need to identify these individual challenges in order to improve the teaching and learning of Spanish. Thus, this study highlighted the challenges that Filipino students faced in learning Spanish and proposed potential solutions to overcome those difficulties and limitations. The researchers utilized the qualitative research method, specifically the descriptive phenomenological type, and used thematic analysis to analyze the data gathered from 10 participants who are learning Basic and Advanced Spanish as a foreign language. The findings of the study revealed that students struggle with the four domains of language: syntax, semantics, morphology, and phonology. Low motivation due to the perceived irrelevance of Spanish to their major, limited opportunities to practice the language, as well as lack of teacher engagement in the course also adds to their struggles. In addition, the results showed that students try to overcome these challenges by exploring opportunities for target language exposure, utilizing self-learning methods, using online translation software applications, and collaborating with peers
References
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[22]Vargas, J. C., & Mayo, M. G. (2022). Lexical Crosslinguistic Influence in L3 Spanish by Tagalog–English Bilinguals. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/7/3/21 3
[23]Vasseur, R. et. al. (2022). Effects of collaborative writing and peer feedback on Spanish as a foreign language writing performance. Wiley Online Library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10. 1111/flan.12611
[24]Wang J, Zhang X and Zhang LJ (2022) Effects of Teacher Engagement on Students’ Achievement in an Online English as a Foreign Language Classroom: The Mediating Role of Autonomous Motivation and Positive Emotions. Front. Psychol. 13:950652.doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.950652
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[26]World View (n.d.). Action Planning for Global Education. University of North Carolina. https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sit es/cch/docs/arcc-resources-directory/38-d eveloping-a-research-action-plan.pdf
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(Website)
[14]Caulfield, J. (2022). How to Do Thematic Analysis | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples.
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/the matic-analysis/
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-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language
[7]Justlearn (2020). The 5 Hardest Languages to Learn For Spanish Speakers (or Not?). Justlearn. https://bit.ly/41qWPo2
[16]Koyfman, S. (2021). 7 Struggles Spanish Learners Understand All Too Well. Babbel Magazine. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/
[2]Maria (2023). It’s Good to Be Popular! 7 of the World’s Most Studied Languages. Fluent Language Learning. https://bit.ly/3Al2Nve
[4]McGibney, S. (2022). Highest Paying Foreign Language Jobs. Newsdle. https://bit.ly/3qj8AQ5
[12]Mckoy, S., & Boyd, N. (2022).
Phenomenological Research Model & Examples. Study.com. https://bit.ly/41FJIzX
[3]Middlebury Language Schools (2022).
25 Reasons Why You Should Learn Spanish. Language Schools Blog. https://bit.ly/3IJHUP9
[8]Poe, G. (2020). FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION ACT. Senate
of the Philippines Legislative Digital Resources. https://bit.ly/3zBKDFc
[6]The Spanish Forum (2018). What are the difficulties in learning Spanish? Tilde Madrid. https://bit.ly/414TfAm
[11]United Nation (2015). 4 Quality Education. United Nation. https://bit.ly/41k68pR
[24]Urlaub, P. & Dessein. E. (2022). Machine translation and foreign language education. Global Languages. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2022.936111s
[1] Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions (Third). Sage Publications.
[2] Santos, A. (2019). Using artificial intelligence and speech recognition technologies to enhance foreign language learning. In M. Khosrow-Pour (Ed.), Encyclopedia of information science and technology. IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7037-5.ch019
(Journal articles)
[1] Albiladi, W., Abdeen, F., & Lincoln, F. (2018). Learning English through movies: Adult English language learners’ perceptions. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 8(12), 1567–1574. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0812.01
[2] Cabilan, C. J. (2018). Challenges of Filipino Students in Learning Spanish as a Foreign Language. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 5(4), 192-199. http://ijll-net.com/
[3] Carnegie Mellon University. (2023). Students have varying motivations for taking a course - Eberly Center - Carnegie Mellon University. https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/solveproblem/stratbackgroundknowledge/backgroundknowledge-07.html
[4] Durga, V. S. & Rao, C. S. (2018). Developing Students' Writing Skills in English: A Process Approach. Journal for Research Scholars and Professionals of English Language Teaching. http://www.jrspelt.com
[5] Gardner, R. C., & Lambert, W. E. (1972). Attitudes and motivation in second language learning Rowley, MA: Newbury House Publishers. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/LEA RN/article/download/102787/82335/2599 31
[6] Mansor, N. S., Aziz, N.A., Olmedo, B.V., & Nor, M. M. (2022) Basic Spanish for Malaysian Students: Learning Difficulties. Asian Journal of University Education (AJUE). https://bit.ly/3zBmkay
[7] Nhi, Truong H. (2021). An Investigation into Foreign Language Self-Study Methods of English-Majored Students at HUFI, 12, x. https://doi.org/10.3390
[8] Sarmiento, A. S. (2018). How Multilingual Filipinos Learn Spanish as a Foreign Language: Some Crosslinguistic Considerations. University of the Philippines Diliman. https://bit.ly/3nXzs7a
[18]Sinco, M. C., & Villarreal, E. S. (2019). Challenges in learning Spanish among Filipino students: Implications for language teaching and learning. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(1), 170-179. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i1
[19]Sunggingwati, Dyah. (2018). Cooperative learning in peer teaching: A case study in an EFL context. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics. 8. 10.17509/ijal.v8i1.11475.
[20]Tatlonghari, M. S., & Ayson, M. K. S. (2019). The effects of instructional strategies on Filipino students' attitudes and performance in Spanish as a foreign language. Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 8(4), 1-10. http://www.ajssh.leena-luna.co.jp/ajsshvol 8n4.php
[21]Teravainen-Goff, A. (2022). Why motivated learners might not engage in language learning: An exploratory interview study of language learners and teachers. Language Teaching Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/136216882211353 99
[22]Vargas, J. C., & Mayo, M. G. (2022). Lexical Crosslinguistic Influence in L3 Spanish by Tagalog–English Bilinguals. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/7/3/21 3
[23]Vasseur, R. et. al. (2022). Effects of collaborative writing and peer feedback on Spanish as a foreign language writing performance. Wiley Online Library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10. 1111/flan.12611
[24]Wang J, Zhang X and Zhang LJ (2022) Effects of Teacher Engagement on Students’ Achievement in an Online English as a Foreign Language Classroom: The Mediating Role of Autonomous Motivation and Positive Emotions. Front. Psychol. 13:950652.doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.950652
[25]Wongvorachan, T. (2023). The Impact of Classroom Competition and Cooperatio to Student Academic Performance. Centre for Research in Applied Measurement and Evaluation.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 367270133
[26]World View (n.d.). Action Planning for Global Education. University of North Carolina. https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sit es/cch/docs/arcc-resources-directory/38-d eveloping-a-research-action-plan.pdf
[27]Yobouet, N. T. (2021). A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Former English as a Foreign Language Students. Doctor of Education (Ed.D). 91. https://firescholars.seu.edu/coe/91
(Website)
[14]Caulfield, J. (2022). How to Do Thematic Analysis | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples.
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/the matic-analysis/
[30]Eton Institute. (2023) Top 10 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language. https://www.etoninstitute.com/blog/top-10
-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language
[7]Justlearn (2020). The 5 Hardest Languages to Learn For Spanish Speakers (or Not?). Justlearn. https://bit.ly/41qWPo2
[16]Koyfman, S. (2021). 7 Struggles Spanish Learners Understand All Too Well. Babbel Magazine. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/
[2]Maria (2023). It’s Good to Be Popular! 7 of the World’s Most Studied Languages. Fluent Language Learning. https://bit.ly/3Al2Nve
[4]McGibney, S. (2022). Highest Paying Foreign Language Jobs. Newsdle. https://bit.ly/3qj8AQ5
[12]Mckoy, S., & Boyd, N. (2022).
Phenomenological Research Model & Examples. Study.com. https://bit.ly/41FJIzX
[3]Middlebury Language Schools (2022).
25 Reasons Why You Should Learn Spanish. Language Schools Blog. https://bit.ly/3IJHUP9
[8]Poe, G. (2020). FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION ACT. Senate
of the Philippines Legislative Digital Resources. https://bit.ly/3zBKDFc
[6]The Spanish Forum (2018). What are the difficulties in learning Spanish? Tilde Madrid. https://bit.ly/414TfAm
[11]United Nation (2015). 4 Quality Education. United Nation. https://bit.ly/41k68pR
[24]Urlaub, P. & Dessein. E. (2022). Machine translation and foreign language education. Global Languages. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2022.936111s
Published
2023-11-11
How to Cite
M. ParaynoM. (2023). FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: EXPLORING THE STRUGGLES OF FILIPINO STUDENTS IN LEARNING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. Proceedings of International Interdisciplinary Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (IICSDGs), 6(1), 175-188. Retrieved from https://journals.ubmg.ac.id/index.php/IICSDGs/article/view/1622
