Foreign languages: learning experiences of CAPSU MSC students

Abstract

This study was conducted at Capiz State University Mambusao Satellite College, during academic year 2022-2023 to find answers to the following questions: 1. What are the learning experiences of CAPSU MSC students on the FL learning; and 2. What are the coping mechanisms of CAPSU MSC students on the experiences brought about by foreign language learning? The researchers gathered the data from eight (8) purposively selected 4 year students of CapSU-MSC. For equal representation of the department, two (2) participants were from BSOA, BSFT, BSCS and BAEL department. All of the participants were officially enrolled for Academic Year 2022-2023. The researchers used purposive sampling to obtain the sample. The data were analyzed from interviews and other forms of data collection. The study has the following findings: 1) The majority of the participants answered that foreign language is a fun and interesting subject, but it is also a hard subject. Learning foreign languages opens up new opportunities especially in work; and it allows them to discover new cultures. 2 The participants unanimously answered that learning foreign language is difficult during pandemic. Specifically, they mentioned encountering problems with speaking skills, poor internet connectivity, unreliable sources, pronunciation, losing interest, poor vocabulary, lack of practice opportunities, expecting FL to be easy, grammatical construction, multiple translations, and lack of guidance while studying. 3) Most of the participants answered that they are dissatisfied with their foreign language performance due to the lack or absence of face-to-face instructions and limited learning materials. 4) Most of the participants access the internet and use online language translation tools in studying a foreign language. The participants answered that internet research and sources, and online language translators are the coping mechanisms they employed in dealing with problems regarding foreign languages. 5) The participants expressed that immersing themselves, studying and keeping themselves motivated, joining social network groups, and answering easy parts of the modules are the specific strategies they employed to cope with the pressures of learning a foreign language. 6) The participants said that they seek help from their teachers, classmates, foreign friends, family and friends in learning foreign language.