Suomalaisen koulutusjärjestelmän kielikoulutus ja sen relevanssi. Osa 2

Abstract

The present study is the second part of a research project concerned with foreign language education and its relevance in the Finnish educational system. In this part, relevance of foreign language education is examined from the point of view of comprehensive-school and upper-secondary-school students, parents and educational administration authorities. The motives for language choices which students and parents make are also dealt with. Finally, relevant language education is defined. Answers are sought by means of questionnaires. Students, parents, and educational administration authorities do not consider the present language education in comprehensive schools and upper secondary schools as relevant. The motives to choose a language depend on students' plans, their previous experiences of languages and language studies, and on pressures and incentives on them. Parents choose a language starting in the third grade, primarily, on the basis of the child's own wishes. English is chosen also because it is an international language, and other languages because the child can start to study English as a voluntary subject in the fifth grade. Relevant language education consists of two foreign languages in comprehensive ja upper secondary schools to be chosen by students. The A-language is chosen from among many languages and Swedish is voluntary or optional. Students have the opportunity to study a voluntary foreign language from the fifth grade. They can also choose voluntary languages from among a variety of foreign languages in comprehensive and upper secondary schools.