Semi-structured interview questions.

1. What is your mother language?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. When did you start learning English?

4. What initiated you to learn English?

5. If you remember, how was your first experience? (Excitement, disappointment and etc.)

6. Is it easy to learn?

7. What is the main reason for you to come to the United Kingdom?

8. How long are you going to stay in the United Kingdom?

9. What do you think about English in general?

10. Do you think it will help you to achieve your personal goals?

11. Do you need English for future career?

12. Do you have personal interest for learning English?

13. What mostly motivates you to learn it? (personal interest or career achievement)

14. Age.

15. Gender.

16. Country of origin?

The Code of Ethics:

Business card:

Appendices 1:

Me: Good afternoon. My name is Umman and I’m doing a research on topic “why do we learn English, what is the main reason for it”

Participant 1: Ok, thank you.

Me: But firstly I would like to give you the code of ethics that I guarantee your anonymity and confidentiality, you have right to comment and the final report I can give it to you if you want. The data is also protected. I signed it, and so you can read it and then we can start.

Participant 1: ok, thank you. Its clear.

Me: shall we start then?

Participant 1: yeah.

Me: ok, what is your mother language?

Participant 1: Spanish.

Me: ok, and do you speak any other languages?

Participant 1: no, just Spanish…well..ehm..

Me: and English..

Participant 1: yeah and English I think.

Me: but are you interested in other languages, I mean would you like to learn some language?

Participant 1: yeah yeah yeah.. I think I would like to if I have the time.

Me: ok

Participant 1: may be French, but just as a hobby being honest.

Me: yes, that’s what I want to know. And when did you start learning English?

Participant 1: ehm…..I’ve been studying English since I was may be 9 in school but it was just the basic. So during the primary school to the secondary school it was just the basics, it wasn’t good, it was just like: mother, father, numbers and verbs, and things like that but not that advanced.

Me: and then you went to high school and start learning “real English”

Participant 1: yeah in high school..yeah actually “real Englsih”

Me: ok. What initiated you to learn English? Why did you start learning English?...(pause) is it just because it was necessary at school or something else?

Participant 1: well…firstly it was because of school. Yeah as I told you I had primary school and then secondary and then high school. As well for my parents I think, because they put in school..who…where improve, in part English.

Me: ok thanks, I understand. Ehm, do you remember anything of you first experience of English? I mean not may be in primary school, but in high school when you started to learn real English as you say? Was it nice, easy and interesting or was it difficult?

Participant 1:for me it was I think interesting. Because I really like movies and most of them were in English, cartoons as well, and series and music so everything was in English. So I was really interesting learn about and as well speak it.

Me: understand. Is it easy to learn it? Now for example, the grammar, the pronunciation or the understanding? Is it different? now or the period that you are learning.

Participant 1: when I first started it was really difficult, it was a new language. some words were similar so it was confusing to pronounce it in the right way. But now I think its not that difficult as before. It is still difficult to learn new words and new grammar, but it ok because now I know how does it works-English words.

Me: ok I understand, thank you. So lets move to another topic a little. What is the main reason for you to come to the United Kingdom? Is it studies or travel or something else may be?

Participant 1: study. Study and yeah, history in general, not for travel. I mean I like travel but I decided to came to the UK because I really like the English. And yeah English.

Me: study, ok. And how long are you going to stay?

Participant 1: 9 month.

Me: 9 month? Ok nice! It a lot of time then! And what do you think about English in general? Like: is it necessary for everyone to learn and in international language and so on?

Participant 1: I think it’s really useful. Sorry

Me: it’s ok.

Participant 1: I think it’s very useful if you want to grow up in everything, like in business and science and everything! I mean English is like…it actually, it…the…

Me: international language?

Participant 1: yeah I mean it’s the international language as well but it is the principal language, you know, I mean if you want do something else out of your country you need to learn English. You need to speak English.

Me: ok. Do you think it will help you to achieve personal goals like you have some dream, you have something in your mind? Just personal, not like too much related to the work experience, getting wealthy and getting rich and doing business, but just personal aims. Travelling may be around the world, to know other cultures or something.

Participant 1: yes of course! But I think it’s from the same hand, because my dreams are work and do big things and it’s the same.

Me: it’s the same. Ok. so you need English for future career mostly?

Participant 1: for my future in general.

Me: ok but do you have personal interest, for example, imagine you’re not going to…it’s not related to your work, you will not work this way and you will work in your own country where you won’t need English…would you learn English anyway?

Participant 1: yes! Yeah!

Me: so you are really interested in it!

Participant 1: yeah yeah!

Me: ok the final question: what mostly motivates you to learn English? The future career or personal interest?

Participant 1: future career! Yeah.. To work.. To grow up!

Me: ok thank you very much. And now can I have your age please?

Participant 1: I’m 18.

Me: and you are male. And the country of origin?

Participant 1: oh my country?

Me: yeah.

Participant 1: I’m from Mexico!!

Me: nice! Mexican food-delicious! Mucha gracias (Spanish) thank you very much indeed, I really appreciate it.

Participant 1: thank you thank you too.

Me: have a nice day!

Appendices 2:

Me: good afternoon!

Participant 2: good afternoon.

Me: my name is Umman and I’m doing a research on topic why do we actually learn English. But firstly I want to give you the code of ethics. You can read it if you want, I guarantee your anonymity and confidentiality, you have right to comment and the final report I can give it to you if you want and everything will be protected.

Participant 2: ok, thank you.

Me: are you ok bu the way?

Participant 2: yeah I’m ok.

Me: everything is nice for you today?

Participant 2: yeah sure..

Me: ok it’s just a question.

Participant 2: ok.

Me: lets go to the questions then. The first one is easy: what is your mother language?

Participant 2: my mother language is Italian.

Me: do you speak any other languages?

Participant 2: I speak French.

Me: ok. when did you start learning English?

Participant 2: I think I was about 13 or 14 years old.

Me: so you were at school then?

Participant 2: yes I was at school I was 13 or..

Me: ok. and what initiated you to learn it?why did you start learning it?

Participant 2: ah..because it was necessary at school. Yeah at school we had to learn English. So I began it this way.

Me: ok do you remember your first experience of learning it? How was it? Was it difficult or not? Were you exited or something?

Participant 2: no I was exited! because ahhm…for me, I began learning English later than other friends. Because ahhm…when I was younger so the school that you do from 6 to 12…ehm I didn’t learn any language, while my friends had to learn English at school. And for me at 13 years old I didn’t know any languages except my Italian and French because I lived in France for a while, ehm..so I was exited to learn a new language.

Me: very nice! Ok, and how is it now? Is it easy ti learn to understand English?

Participant 2: its easy to understand people who are not ehm..

Me: native speakers..?

Participant 2: yeah native speakers.so when I speak to French girl like (name of a friend) or with other people who are not English- its easy. But when I speak with native speakers it more difficult. I think it is more difficult.

Me: ok, I understand. Now let’s move to another topic. What is the main reason for you to come to the United Kingdom?

Participant 2: it’s because in April I need to begin my new work and I need to improve my English because the company has a lot of customers from other countries and I don’t know, for example I don’t know Dutch and I have to speak English with Dutch people, so I have to improve English for that reason, not for school for example, because I finished the university!

Me: ok, and how long are you staying here?

Participant 2: until the 6^th of April, so it is 12 weeks.

Me: and what do you think about English in general? Like is it easy language or is it necessary for everyone…just generally what can you say about it?

Participant 2: I think English is easier than other languages in grammatical for example Italian language is more difficult than English, but it difficult I mean because it a new language, and yeah may be its difficult for verbs and things like this.

Me: ok. and is it really necessary in our world?

Participant 2: yeah, I think it’s necessary to learn English, to know well English …yeah.

Me: alright. Do you think it will help you to achieve personal goals? like not only about job, not only about getting wealthy and so on but just personally for you?

Participant 2: yes I think so. Yes English is useful also for travelling.

Me: so you like travelling?

Participant 2:yes I like it. May be I don’t know you want to stay in a different country and you don’t know the language of that country but if you know English, you can stay in this country.

Me: yeah ok. and you obviously answered already. Do you need English for future career? Yes you need it. That is the reason.

Participant 2:yeah yeah yeah.

Me: ok but do you have any personal interest? like you just want to learn English…imagine you don’t have this work opportunity, would you learn English anyway?

Participant 2: yes I think so I would learn it. I would like to learn a lot of languages.

Me: so you are really interested in learning languages.?

Participant 2:yeah, I would like to learn Spanish for example. And I am Italian so it is not that difficult for me. I don’t have a lot of time but I would like to learn Spanish too. And Chinese I would like to learn but I don’t know.

Me: you are keen on learning languages?

Participant 2: yes I am.

Me: ok may be the last question: what mostly motivates you to learn it? Is more of future career or personal interest? Just more?

Participant 2:I think both of them equally. But may be most is future job.

Me: you think future career?

Participant 2: yes I think yes. But we can say that it is something that not just do because work but that I like to do, so not like I am bored to do.

Me: ok I understand. Finally, can I have your age please?

Participant 2: 24

Me: you are female. And country..

Participant 2: Italy.

Me: Italy yeah. Ok thank you very much for doing this interview. I will give my contacts now and will send you the final report if you want.

Participant 2: ok I will take it. Yes, thank you.

Me: thanks again.

Appendices 3:

Me: Good afternoon!

Participant 3: good afternoon!

Me: thank you for accepting my interview.

Participant 3: it’s a pleasure.

Me: my name is Umman and I am doing a research on topic “why do we learn English?” We are all here to learn English, so it might be interesting for you as well to know why people actually learn English!

Participant 3: sure!

Me: But firstly I need to give you the code of ethics that I guarantee your anonymity, confidentiality, you have right to comment and I will send you the final report if you ask me to do so.

Participant 3: thank you. Ok.

Me: so the first question: what is your mother language?

Participant 3: my mother language is Portuguese.

Me: Portuguese... Ok... And do you speak any other languages?

Participant 3: no I don’t, just Portuguese.

Me: just Portuguese and English…

Participant 3: yes Portuguese and English.

Me: Portuguese is quite similar to Spanish, isn’t it?

Participant 3: yes it is – Latin.

Me: ok, would you like to learn other languages? Do you have any interest in learning languages?

Participant 3: yes I would like to learn French and Spanish as well!

Me: alright. And when did you start learning English?

Participant 3: yeah… I did some courses during the primary school and during last year I went to Britain to continue my course.

Me: so you are here since the last year?

Participant 3: yes.

Me: nice. And what initiated you to learn English? Why did you start learning English?

Participant 3: because it is the international business language that’s why I would like to learn it and to study as well.

Me: so you basically started to learn it by yourself…

Participant 3: yes yes.

Me: not because it was necessary at school or something?

Participant 3: no no, it is just because… it is just my intension to learn it!

Me: ok nice! Well, if you remember anything of your first experience… was it nice or difficult or anything?

Participant 3: I was very excited in my first experience to speak English.

Me: so you liked it…

Participant 3: yes, sure.

Me: is it easy to learn it now or the period that you’ve been learning.

Participant 3: yeah, it is not very difficult. When you want something, you always get it!

Me: ok! so another topic: what is the main reason for you to come to united kingdom?

Participant 3: just study and to go to university. And as well my… I would like to expand my knowledge and be extension culture…

Me: learn about cultures…

Participant 3: yes learn about cultures.

Me: ok, and how long are you going to stay here?

Participant 3: 3-4 years just to finish my university and masters.

Me: what are you studying?

Participant 3: engineering. Tele-communicational engineering… oh electronic engineering.

Me: ok, understand. Ehm… ok let’s talk about English in general. What do you think about it? You already told that it is important, that it is international business language, what else can you tell me?

Participant 3: as I told you, being an international business language, you can go everywhere and speak English and they mostly understand you. And it is also very important for business meetings.

Me: ok thank you. Do you think it will help you to achieve personal goals? Like if you have some dreams will English have an impact on them?

Participant 3: yes of course, one of my dreams was to come to Britain and study.

Me: ok, understand. And what about future career, for future job may be?

Participant 3: yes, I expect English to keep going with my life, not just university, but as well in my career life as engineer.

Me: ok. so the final question for you! What mostly motivates you to learn English: is it more for future career or personal interest?

Participant 3: personal interest!

Me: personal interest, so even if you don’t have this opportunity to work, you would learn it anyway?

Participant 3: Yes!

Me: ok thank you! And can have your age please?

Participant 3: yes I am 19 years old.

Me: and country of origin?

Participant 3: Angola!

Me: ok thank you very very much for your time, it was nice to talk tou you!

Participant 3: welcome, thank you too.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31