Attitudes towards Learning English as a Foreign Language: The Case of Palestinian High School Graduates

Abstract

This study explores the attitudes of Palestinian high school graduates towards learning English. The sample of the study included 370 students,(193 males and 177 females)who have finished high school and joined Palestine Polytechnic University. Ninety-six of the whole sample started learning English in the first grade while 274 started in the fifth grade. They were surveyed by using a questionnaire to investigate their attitudes towards five aspects in the context of EFL; namely, English as a school subject, English language activities outside the classroom, the importance of English in students' daily life, as well as native speakers of English and English language teachers. The results showed that students have different levels of attitudes towards these five aspects; the highest were attitudes towards the importance of English in daily life, while the lowest was their attitudes towards English native speakers. The study also showed significant differences between males and females and between the first-grade starters vs. the fifth-grade starters.