| dc.description.abstract | This study was undertaken to explore current attitudes towards foreign language
learning and speaking in Hungary. Sparked by the low foreign language proficiency in
Hungary (European Commission, 2012a, p. 14), it aimed at a deeper, and more qualitative
understanding of the individual differences in attitude towards foreign language, and it
investigates how these attitudes may be specific to Hungary. Data were obtained through
semi-structured interviews that were conducted in and around Budapest with individuals of
two different age groups (10 in total). The analysis of these data reveals a wealth of individual
differences, which confirms the complexity of foreign language learning research. At the
same time, the Hungarians that were interviewed showed some general patters concerning the
importance of the teacher, mixed feelings towards Russian, positive though pragmatic
attitudes towards the learning of English, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for Italian - but
only if they were asked to pick a language they would want to know without having to study
for it. | |
