Australia: Language tyros lost for words

[Francis Hult]

Via lgpolicy...


Language tyros lost for words

September 16, 2009

Article from:  The Australian

TRUE beginners in elementary language courses are outnumbered and
demoralised by fellow students already familiar with the language, a
pioneering study of drop-out rates suggests. Fewer than four in 10
students in the basic stream of language courses are "true beginners",
according to the Australian Academy of the Humanities study, which
surveyed almost 3000 first-year students.  The report says "a not
insignificant number" of students "confessed" they were enrolled in a
beginner's stream despite having successfully completed year 12
studies in that language.  "It is easy to imagine that this could
cause significant morale issues for true beginners and would be highly
likely to affect retention rates."

Full story:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26077498-12332,00.html


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