The doubter's dilemma exploring student attrition and retention in university language & culture programs
This book explores the extent and causes of attrition and retention in university Language & Culture (L & C) programs through a detailed analysis of an institutional case study at The Australian National University (ANU). Using extensive data collected through student surveys, coupled with d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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Canberra, Acton, A.C.T.
ANU Press, ANU Press, Australian National University
2016, 2016[2016]©2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
| Collection: | JSTOR Open Access Books - Collection details see MPG.ReNa |
Table of Contents:
- 1.8. Implications of the LASP1 and LASP2 research1.9. Attrition at the course level: Risk factors; 1.10. Learning anxiety as a specific risk factor in language learning; 1.11. Asking the difficult questions: Attrition as a research problem ; 1.12. A reader's guide to this book; Accounting for the Missing Students: Calculating retention rates in Language & Culture programs; 2.1. The importance of validity when calculating attrition and retention rates ; 2.2. Calculating retention rates at ANU: The complexity of language enrolments
- Some Detective Work: Comparing Committed Students, Quitters and Doubters 4.1. Overview; 4.2. A detailed interpretation of the cross-tabulated variables that characterise Committed Students, Doubters and Quitters; 4.3. Summary; The Road to Language Capital: Interpreting the findings ; 5.1. Characterising the three student archetypes ; 5.2. Doubters as 'students at risk'; 5.3. The concept of 'language capital'; 5.4. The concept of language capital as a means of interpreting the classroom context ; 5.5. Summary; Where to from Here? Conclusions and suggestions
- Understanding the problem : student attrition and retention in university language & culture programs in Australia
- Accounting for the missing students : calculating retention rates in language & culture programs
- Splitting the masses : methodology and data analysis
- Some detective work : comparing committed students, quitters and doubters
- The road to language capital : interpreting the findings
- Appendix 1: Questionnaire 1. Language retention study : first year students 2009
- Appendix 2: Questionnaire: continuing intermediate and advanced level students 2009
- Appendix 3: Questionnaire: Discontinuing students 2009
- 2.3. The need for new ways of calculating language retention rates 2.4. Further issues impacting the calculation of retention rates; 2.5. Do retention rates vary by discipline? ; 2.6. Late starters at advanced levels-Students who speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home ; 2.7. Summary; Splitting the Masses: Methodology and data analysis; 3.1. Phase 1 methodology; 3.2. Implications of the Phase 1 findings from a methodological perspective ; 3.3. Beyond the dichotomy: Moving towards more effective statistical analyses; 3.4. Phase 2 methodology; 3.5. Summary
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-210)
- Appendices: Online Questionnaires Used in the ANU Study. Appendix 1: Questionnaire 1. Language Retention Study: First year students 2009; Appendix 2: Questionnaire: Continuing intermediate and advanced level students 2009; Appendix 3: Questionnaire: Discontinuing students 2009; Bibliography; Figure 1.1. Factors known to have a negative effect on student completion ; Figure 1.2. Factors associated with course attrition, as identified from the literature; Figure 2.1. Comparison in the enrolment patterns of a Social Science major and two language majors
- Understanding the Problem: Student attrition and retention in university Language & Culture programs in Australia; 1.1. Why is it important to understand student attrition and retention?; 1.2. Attrition as a concern for university Language & Culture programs in Australia ; 1.3. The impact of government, university and school policies on language teaching in Australia; 1.4. Historical perspectives from the teaching coalface; 1.5. Research into attrition in university Language & Culture programs; 1.6. The LASP1 study; 1.7. The LASP2 study