Judit Janés

Mother Tongue as a Determining Variable in Language Attitudes. The Case of Immigrant Latin American Students in Spain (

Abstract Bearing in mind the relevance of immigration in Spain, we consider the linguistic idiosyncrasy of the autonomous community of Catalonia in the present study to describe and analyse language attitudes to Catalan and Spanish in a sample of 225 students of immigrant origin living in different parts of the region. We focus on language attitudes in so far as they promote integration in the host society at the same time that they play a major role in the acquisition of the new language. Globally, the results obtained show positive attitudes to Catalan and Spanish. This however, has to be further clarified taking into consideration the fact that, geographical origin clearly determines the attitudes showed by students. As we will see, it is in the case of learners coming from Latin America that we find the most significant differences.

Niños inmigrantes en sociedades bilingües. Las actitudes ante las lenguas por parte de los escolares recién llegados a Cataluña

Resumen A partir de la relevancia que está adquiriendo el fenómeno migratorio en nuestro país, y considerando la singularidad lingüística de Cataluña, donde el sistema educativo se organiza de forma bilingüe (catalán-castellano), lo que supone que una gran parte de los recién llegados deben adquirir dos segundas lenguas con un nivel de competencia semejante, en el trabajo se describen y analizan las actitudes lingüísticas ante el catalán y el castellano de un grupo de 225 escolares de origen inmigrante de diversas comarcas de Lleida y de la comarca barcelonesa de Osona. La razón de centrar nuestra atención en el tema de las actitudes lingüísticas se debe a la importancia de éstas de cara a promover una buena integración en la sociedad receptora, al mismo tiempo que para destacar el importante papel que juegan en la adquisición de una nueva lengua. De manera global, los resultados obtenidos nos permiten confirmar unas actitudes positivas hacia el catalán y el castellano en el grupo analizado, pero esta afirmación debe ser matizada en el sentido de que el área de origen determina absolutamente las actitudes puestas de manifiesto por los escolares, y es en el caso de los provienen de Latinoamérica donde encontramos las variaciones más significativas. Podemos decir que la Lengua familiar de estos alumnos y alumnas, en casi todos los casos el castellano, juega un papel fundamental a la hora de definir sus actitudes hacia las dos lenguas en presencia y, como viene sucediendo en estudios clásicos que analizan las actitudes lingüísticas en contextos bilingües, sus actitudes tienden a favorecer la lengua adquirida en el medio familiar.

Can language attitudes be improved? A longitudinal study of immigrant students in Catalonia (Spain)

This study explores changes in attitudes towards Catalan, Spanish, and English over a 2-year period, on the part of secondary education students of immigrant origin residing in Catalonia. It aims to provide new data by adopting a longitudinal design and by focusing on the immigrant population, which has raised new challenges for the Catalan society and education system. Data were collected from 72 secondary education students who answered a language attitudes questionnaire twice, at a 2-year interval. The instrument chosen has been successfully used in the area previously [Huguet, Janés, and Chireac. 2008. “Mother Tongue as a Determining Variable in Language Attitudes. The Case of Immigrant Latin American Students in Spain.” Language and Intercultural Communication 8 (4): 246–260; Madariaga, Huguet, and Lapresta. 2013. “Attitudes, Social Pressure and Inclusive Education in Classrooms with Cultural and Linguistic Diversity.” Educación XXI 16 (1): 305–328]. The findings showed that attitudes towards Catalan improved, while attitudes towards Spanish and English remained stable, based on which we discuss the strength of language attitudes in this particular context. Furthermore, the socio-demographic and affective variables traditionally investigated as determinants of language attitudes were not found to influence the processes of attitude change.

Language attitudes in Catalan multilingual classrooms: educational implications

ABSTRACT Catalonia is the Autonomous Community of Spain with the highest proportion of immigrant students. This study analyses the language attitudes of Catalan, as well as the possible explanatory variables for such attitudes, for a large sample with a high proportion of immigrant students and a great linguistic diversity. A questionnaire was given to 1206 second- and fourth-year secondary school students from which linguistic attitudes were evaluated. The questionnaire also evaluated the socio-cultural level and socio-professional level of the students’ families, age on arrival and length of stay of the immigrant students in the host country. Results show that most attitudes are favourable, although the rate of neutral attitudes is significant in all groups. It is seen as necessary to work specifically with Spanish-speaking students within the immigrant group, as they showed less favourable attitudes towards Catalan than the rest. The language spoken at home was significant with regard to attitudes towards Catalan and Spanish, while the age on arrival and the length of stay were significant with regard to attitudes towards Catalan, English and the immigrants’ L1. These results allow for the potential implementation of educational interventions to improve the coexistence of these languages in school.