Secondary school students' learning conceptions and attitudes towards learning foreign language

The aim of this study is to investigate Secondary School Student's Learning Conceptions and Attitudes towards Learning Foreign Language in terms of variables. 595 students from fifth, sixth seventh and eighth grades in a government school participated in the study. Relational scanning method, one of the quantitative methods, was used in the study. Research data was collected by "Secondary School Students Conceptions of Learning Scale" (CLS) and "Secondary School Students' Attitudes of Learning English Scale" (ALES). According to results mean of CLS was calculated (x̄= 61,37) and mean of ALES was calculated (x̄=102,61). There was a correlation between CLS and ALES Scales. (r = .581, n = 575, p = .000) In the study, the effect of gender,( p = .005, p>.05), being abroad ( p = .000, p>.05), habits of reading English books ( p = .000, p>.05), habits of watching subtitled movies ( p = .000, p>.05), attending English course ( p = .044, p>.05) and lastly starting learning English at pre-school ( p = .001, p>.05) on the attitudes toward foreign language learning were determined. Also, in this study the affect score (p = .000, p>.05), having a bedroom (p = .005, p>.05), habits of reading English books, (p = .000, p>.05) habits of watching English movies (p = .001, p>.05), attending an English course (p = .006, p>.05) and starting learning English at pre-school (p = .001, p>.05) on conceptions of learning were determined. Linear regression was carried out to test if students' ALES levels significantly predicted three components of conception (Learning as a Personal Change (F (1,268) = 148.444, p<.001; R2=.336, β=.472 t=13.283 p<.001) , learning as a Development of Social Competence (F (2,371) = 127.525, p<.001; R2=.381, β=.625 t=16.517, p<.001), and Learning as Gaining and Using Information (F (2,221) = 102.652, p<.001; R2=.336, β=.511 t=10.132, p<.001). A positive correlation was defined between them. Compared to the other two components rate for prediction learning as a development of social competence had the highest levels (F (2,371) = 127.525, p<.001; R2=.381, β=.625 t=16.517, p<.001).Key words: Foreign Language Curriculum, Attitudes, Learning Conceptions