Language Beliefs among Adult Learners: Individual Differences

To develop the quality of language learning and utilise learning opportunities in and out of a classroom, it is vital to understand individual's beliefs in language learning. White (2008) affirmed that an individual’s belief plays a key role in the learning process and language acquisition, especially the beliefs the learners have about themselves, language and language learning, and about the settings in which they contribute as language learners and users. This study identifies the English language learning beliefs of adult learners (between 45-50 years of age) in a local university in Sarawak. Questionnaire was the instrument  to collect the data and the data were analysed using SPSS Version 21. The study showed that these adult learners have various levels of language beliefs. The results obtained can be used to enhance the teaching and learning of English language where language instructors can learn more about their learners and the learners’ language beliefs can further enhance learning process in the classroom.


INTRODUCTION
Many people may find learning a foreign or second language to be challenging and daunting, and this scenario exists among Malaysian learners of English language.In Malaysia, English plays a role as the second language in which English language is taught in school education system because English is significant in the students' daily lives and future career.Smith and Strong (2009) mentioned that at present, World English being an international language is of increasing importance in international communication, business, media and pop culture as well as in research journals and in such field like the civil aviation.Many Malaysians often speak English in business, government offices, workplace, higher learning institutions and public places such as the banks, billing counters and even markets.As a result, though English is not the official language, it has become crucial for Malaysians to be able to communicate in English, whether at an average or mastery level.
However, Hariati and Lee (2011) affirmed that many educators grumble on the declining levels of English performance and proficiency among students in schools and universities.To add, Zuraidah (2007) observed that many English learners tend to exhibit reluctance and seem hesitant to speak out unless it is absolutely necessary.Consequently, many English learners in Malaysia perceive English learning as challenging, even before they step into the classroom.Due to such belief, they struggle to master the language.To make the matter worse, some lack motivation, thus affecting their efforts to commit.Moreover, Chew and Chui (2012) pointed out that taking into account of the learner's role in the learning process might be uncommon in Malaysia, unlike the western countries which place more importance on the significant roles of the learners in the learning process.
In order to achieve their goals in learning languages, learners need to have positive beliefs, motivation and self-confidence.Fazilatfar et al. (2015) considered beliefs as cognitive entities that guide humans to behave in a community.They are crucial factors that lead most human behavior.Hence, Woolfolk (2006) affirmed that the learners' beliefs and attributions do give a significant impact to the learners' drive to learn any language.In addition, Kalaja and Barcelos (2003) defined language belief as a particular area of an individual's learner difference which may influence the acquisition of foreign or second language learning, mainly their learning experiences.Notably, White (2008) affirmed that beliefs play a significant role in the learning process and "in terms of language learning, the domains of beliefs which are acknowledged as relevant are the beliefs learners hold about themselves, about language and language learning, and about the contexts in which they participate as language learners and language users" (p.121).Horwitz (1988), the first researcher who conducted a detailed research into beliefs in language learning, has developed the Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) to access language learners' beliefs about language learning.She perceived that such beliefs are influencing language learners' expectations, motivation, and commitment to language learning.Ellis (2008) further asserted that learners' beliefs are present when they have recognised several attributes of language learning and language learning ability such as knowledge of the target language, strategies, goals and cultural influences.Therefore, it is significant for educators to understand their learners' beliefs as what the learners bring into the classroom may influence their actions and affect how they learn in the classroom.If language educators acknowledge these various beliefs, the teaching techniques can be improved to suit the existing learners' beliefs.Hence, they provide more effective teaching and learning process.Moreover, Talebinejad and Nekauei (2013) observed that over the last three decades, there has been a change in second language acquisition from teaching methods to learner characteristics, in which much of the responsibility for success in language learning depends highly on the effort of individual learners.
Accordingly, English language education has also been emphasised of greater importance in adult education (Smith and Strong, 2009).Adult language learners may devise various language learning perspectives and objectives.Merritt (2013) mentioned that many adults, in fits of frustration, will claim that adults are simply poor at languages as children have more porous minds, better memories, and adaptability.Nevertheless, Merritt further reported that linguistic researchers have found that this claim to be a myth where under controlled conditions, adults can be better at language learning.To add, Smith and Strong (2009) affirmed that most adult learners are goal -oriented and often direct their learning to fulfil particular needs (to advance their studies, progress their career ladder, follow business opportunities, assist children with homework, or simply to be successful users of the language) in which adults can usually communicate effectively in their first language and may code switch between several other languages.Robinson (2005) also discovered that adult learners have greater cognitive and linguistic capabilities, and conceptual complexity than younger learners.As a consequence, it is interesting to investigate whether adult learners have different language beliefs that may influence the way they learn and master English language or other foreign languages.As recommended by Smith and Strong (2013) innovative teaching in an adult classroom can integrate stimulating and enjoyable tasks in providing elements of engagement, collaboration, investigation, and critical analysis of content, context, culture, and structures.
In addressing individual differences in adults' English learning, adult second language learning traditionally involves individual differences such as aptitude, motivation, learning strategies, learning styles, meta-linguistic awareness, and personality traits (e.g., extraversion), as well as a range of other social and affective variables (Ehrman, Leaver & Oxford, 2003).Consequently, adult learners generally embrace a wide range of variables: age, gender, intelligence, personality, learning style and previous learning experience, in which also include their own individual beliefs, attitudes, expectations, motivations and strategies (Hurd, 2006).As a result, educators need to be aware of these variables and provide authentic language activities that can cater to these variables, in which a learner is likely to react, respond and reflect differently to the learning materials.

RESEARCH PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The purpose of this study is to investigate language learners' beliefs specifically on English or foreign language learning among a group of adult learners in one of the local universities in Sarawak.To investigate the learners' beliefs, the items in the questionnaires have been categorised into five major scopes: Foreign Language Aptitude (items 1 to 9), Difficulty of Language Learning (items 10 to 15), Nature of Language Learning (items 16 to 22), Learning and Communication Strategies (items 23 to 31), and Motivations and Expectations (items 32 to 39).The research questions are: 1.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The respondents of this study comprised sixteen adult ESL learners (aged 45-50 years old) who did their part time studies in the respective university.They are working adults who represented the urban and rural areas in Sarawak.This was a quantitative study and the questionnaire was adapted from Horwitz's BALLI (1988) and Vilbulphol (2004).Notably, slight changes were made to suit the context of the present study.There are 39 items in the survey form and the items are to be answered on a five-point Likert-type scale, with options from strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree to strongly disagree.The data collected were then analysed using SPSS 21 and presented in tabular forms, in accordance to mean scores and highest frequencies (percentages).

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Firstly, the demographic data of the respondents are presented.Most of the respondents are males (only three females among the sixteen respondents) and many of them are in the early fifties.In terms of ethnic population, majority are Malays (56%) while the rests are Iban, Bidayuh, Kedayan and Melanau.Their SPM English Paper Grades are on the average level in which many of them scored between Grade 3 to Grade 6.  1.0 shows the issue of the learner's potential to be successful in learning a language with regards to their beliefs to foreign language learning or aptitude.Majority of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that age can affect a learner's proficiency to learn a language and this result is congruent to the common claim made by most adults in Merritt's study (2012) in which adults are believed to be simply poor at language compared to children who seem to have better language learning capabilities.Besides, some of the respondents also admitted that they possessed special ability to learn foreign language (44% agreed).This is a positive note as they seemed to be able to utilize their learning capabilities to master a language.Some of the noteworthy findings are 44% agreed that people who are bilingual are considered as intelligent while more than half of the respondents acknowledged that everyone can speak a foreign language if given the opportunity.All the items in Table 2 show the learner's beliefs in relation to the level of difficulty in ESL learning.It is interesting to note that most of the items reported the mean scores of 3.5 and above ('agreement' with the percentages between 50% to 70%).It is perceived that the respondents agreed that some languages are easier to learn than the others.They seemed to be positive about it as they believed that they can learn to speak English well.Such positive beliefs can affect their motivation and confidence in learning process and this is supported by Dornyei (2005) who stated that beliefs could be useful for practical reasons in which educators can help to develop these beliefs to enhance learning.On a lesser note, these admissions of finding reading and writing skills less difficult than the other skills (speaking and listening) might also indicate that some respondents lacked confidence of speaking in English or any other foreign languages and thus, they might feel shy or face difficulties in communicating in other languages besides their own mother tongue.The ability to obtain and master all four language skills is a merit if one desires to be an effective English speaker.On another note, adult learners usually have diverse variables when it comes to learning English which include individual beliefs, attitudes, expectations, motivations and strategies (Hurd, 2006).Thus, if the respondents obtain certain degree of positive beliefs in learning English language, they are able to overcome their individual differences to adapt to the given language activities and complete the tasks effectively.Educators on the other hand, need to adjust their language lessons and activities to suit the needs of their learners, both in terms of the syllabus and learner differences.The next set of beliefs in Table 3 is associated with the nature of language learning.The first apparent finding is that 63% of the respondents believed that it is better to learn English from the English-speaking natives in the English spoken countries.Moreover, more than half of the respondents optimistically admitted that learning grammar and vocabulary is fundamental in learning the English language, as well as the idea of translating from Malaysia's official language, Bahasa Malaysia to English.To add, half of the respondents agreed that memorization is required in learning to speakEnglish.This belief stems from the fact that these respondents, who are also adult learners, are probably 'old-timers' who might have frequently been exposed to memorization or drilling teaching and learning kind of method when they were in school learning English.Memorization could include sets of grammar rules and vocabularies which they had to memorize to be tested later.Furthermore, adult learners need to understand the nature and structure of the language; as they learn to use the language itself, where effective instruction will incorporate direct instruction in the aspects of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax as these relate to specific topic areas and task types (Burt, Peyton, & Schaetzel, 2008;Kruidenier, 2002;Larsen-Freeman, 2003) in Centre of Applied Linguistics (2015).They also acknowledged the significance of constant practice and repetition, and recognized the effectiveness of using a wide range of audio materials, mass media and the Internet so that they will become proficient English speakers.On the contrary, though many agreed that it is important to speak with excellent pronunciation, 44% still agreed that they should not say anything in English until they can say it correctly.Besides that, some respondents exhibited shyness to speak English (36% of agreement and strong agreement) while 44% disagreed.Generally, these results indicate that many respondents agreed that appropriate communicative activities are useful in enhancing their communication strategies: learning correct pronunciation, using authentic materials (audio, printed or online) and continuous practicing.Centre for Applied Linguistics (2015) also suggested that adult learners prefer authentic communication tasks and use communication strategies because they can acquire meaningful interaction and natural communication.39.Learning English will help me communicate with people from other countries because English is an international language.4.25 .577A 63% *S.A-Strongly agree; A-agree; N-neutral; D-disagree; S.D-strongly disagree The final set of items for language beliefs in relation to motivation and expectations revealed more positive responses as compared to the rests of the items.It is believed that the respondents were sufficiently motivated to acknowledge the significance of being good users of English language (most of the respondents agreed that English provides more opportunities for better careers, great access to information from all around the world, vital role for tertiary education and good communication with foreigners).Many adult learners are motivated to learn languages, especially if the activities involve communicative tasks such as solving problems or completing tasks that enables them to handle real-life tasks successfully (Condelli, Wrigley, & Yoon, 2009;Miller, 2010;Peyton, Moore, & Young, 2010;Wiggins & McTighe, 2005).To add, they also agreed that communicating in English will enable them to expand their circle of friends and networking.Hence, with such positive responses, the respondents can improve their English proficiency and increase their confidence and motivation to learn the language.These results are parallel to the observations made by Smith and Strong (2009) who pointed out that most adult learners are goal-oriented and often direct their learning to fulfil specific needs.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Learners' language beliefs have been regularly studied over the years in the area of education.These beliefs can actually affect one's drive and confidence to make an effort in learning a foreign language.The findings from the BALLI survey imply that these respondents who are adult learners possess both positive and negative beliefs, and the beliefs are at various levels.Notably, the inclination towards positive beliefs is seen to be stronger than the negative ones, especially the beliefs regarding foreign language learning / aptitude and, motivations and expectations in ESL learning.Perhaps, most adult learners are more target-driven and have obtained more experiences in which they are able to distinguish what they want to achieve in lives, as compared to the younger learners.Despite their individual differences, most adult learners are likely to be able to plan their own learning to suit their personal needs and preferences.In general, to improve the proficiency of the language learners, educators can plan and set up strategies which support learners of all age levels, who lack confidence and are weak in the language, to change their beliefs into more positive outcomes.Besides, to ensure a successful adult teaching and learning process, educators should be alert of what adult learners are expecting from their language lessons and what learning behaviours that they might bring into the classrooms.With such awareness, the educators can improve the way they teach language as to avoid impeding the adult learners' various learning beliefs, experiences and individualities.Furthermore, in tackling adult learners, the educators need to accept the reality that adult learners can learn a new language.Schleppegrell (1987) stated that the adult learners' self directness, life experiences, independence as learners, and motivations to learn should provide them with the advantages to learn as the ability to learn a language is not seen to decline with age.

Table 4 :
Language Beliefs (Learning and Communication StrategiesTable4reveals the responses of language beliefs in association to the learning and communication strategies.The results for this section seem to illustrate a mixture of positive and negative beliefs.A few of the positive outlooks are many of the respondents agreed that correct pronunciation is vital.

Table 5 :
Language Beliefs (Motivation and Expectations in ESL Learning)