Background questionnaire - 5/23/12 and 10/4/12 S2326

Complete the following background questionnaire, responding to all items to the best of your knowledge.

Please enter your first and last name in the box below before starting the questionnaire. Any personal information will be kept confidential.
Name: 


  1. Sex:
    Female
    Male


  1. Current Age (in years):


  1. Highest level of completed education:
    Secondary
    Undergraduate
    Graduate


  1. What is your native language(s)?
    English
    Spanish
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. What is your mother’s native language(s)?
    English
    Spanish
    Other
    N/A


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. What is your father’s native language(s)?
    English
    Spanish
    Other
    N/A


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. Reading in Spanish for you is typically…
    Very difficult
    Somewhat difficult
    Neither easy nor hard
    Somewhat easy
    Easy


  1. Speaking in Spanish for you is typically…
    Very difficult
    Somewhat difficult
    Neither easy nor hard
    Somewhat easy
    Easy


  1. Understanding spoken Spanish for you is typically…
    Very difficult
    Somewhat difficult
    Neither easy nor hard
    Somewhat easy
    Easy


  1. Writing in Spanish for you is typically…
    Very difficult
    Somewhat difficult
    Neither easy nor hard
    Somewhat easy
    Easy


  1. Taking Spanish tests for you is typically…
    Very difficult
    Somewhat difficult
    Neither easy nor hard
    Somewhat easy
    Easy


  1. How often do you understand your Spanish instructor(s) when they speak Spanish?
    Almost never
    Some of the time
    Half of the time
    Most of the time
    Almost all of the time


  1. How often do you understand native Spanish speakers when they speak Spanish?
    Almost never
    Some of the time
    Half of the time
    Most of the time
    Almost all of the time


  1. How often do you use Spanish?
    Never
    Few times a year
    Monthly
    Weekly
    Daily


  1. With whom do you use Spanish? Mark all that apply.
    Family
    Friends
    Co-workers
    Significant other
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. Where do you use Spanish? Mark all that apply.
    Home
    Work
    School
    Social settings


  1. By what means do you use Spanish? Mark all that apply.
    Conversation (in person)
    E-mail
    Internet chat
    Telephone
    Texting
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. The people with whom I speak Spanish outside of class are (mark all that apply):
    Native Spanish speakers
    Non-native Spanish speakers


  1. If you speak Spanish with native Spanish speakers, what is their country of origin?


  1. I study Spanish because (mark all that apply):
    it is required for my major or minor
    it is not required, but helpful for my studies
    it is required for my current job
    it will help me get a better job in the future
    I am interested in friendships with Spanish speakers
    I am interested in dating Spanish speakers
    I live in an area with large numbers of Spanish speakers
    I plan to live in an area with large numbers of Spanish speakers
    I want to communicate better with Spanish-speaking family members


  1. Do you know languages other than Spanish and English?
    Yes – please complete 27-30
    No – skip to 31


  1. What other languages besides English and Spanish do you know?


  1. How well do you know those languages? Mark only one circle per row for the FIRST language entered in question 22 here.
    1 = Beginner
    2 = Intermediate
    3 = Advanced
    4 = Near-native

          1 2 3 4    
      Listening   
      Speaking   
      Reading   
      Writing   


  1. How well do you know those languages? Mark only one circle per row for the SECOND language entered in question 22 here.
    1 = Beginner
    2 = Intermediate
    3 = Advanced
    4 = Near-native

          1 2 3 4    
      Listening   
      Speaking   
      Reading   
      Writing   


  1. How well do you know those languages? Mark only one circle per row for the THIRD language entered in question 22 here.
    1 = Beginner
    2 = Intermediate
    3 = Advanced
    4 = Near-native

          1 2 3 4    
      Listening   
      Speaking   
      Reading   
      Writing   


  1. Approximately how many YEARS have you studied Spanish in...

          1 2 3 4 5 6     N/A
      Elementary/primary school   
      Middle/junior high school   
      High school   
      University   
      Other (i.e. immersion)   


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. Are you currently enrolled in a Spanish course? If so, provide the title or number of the current course. If not, provide the title or number of the last course taken.


  1. Have you ever taken and/or are you currently enrolled in a linguistics course?
    Yes - please complete 35
    No - skip to 36


  1. If so, which one(s)? Please provide the course title or number.


  1. Have you ever taken and/or are you currently taking a course which has presented you with information on the various dialects of Spanish and their characteristics?
    Yes
    No


  1. Have you ever spent more than 3 weeks in a Spanish speaking country?
    Yes - please complete 38-52
    No - skip to 53


  1. Name of city and country #1:


  1. How long were you there (years/months)?


  1. How old were you (years)?


  1. Purpose(s) of stay:
    Study abroad
    Service
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. Name of city and country #2:


  1. How long were you there (years/months)?


  1. How old were you (years)?


  1. Purpose(s) of stay:
    Study abroad
    Service
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. Name of city and country #3:


  1. How long were you there (years/months)?


  1. How old were you (years)?


  1. Purpose(s) of stay:
    Study abroad
    Service
    Other


  1. If other, please explain:


  1. How old were you when you started studying/learning Spanish?


  1. Read the following statements and mark the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of them.

            1 2 3 4 5      
      I would like to travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      My cultural values are similar to those of Spanish-speakers.  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Knowing Spanish helps when looking for a job. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      I am not interested in visiting a Spanish-speaking country. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Spanish is not an important language for my future career.  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      I have no desire to assimilate to a Spanish-speaking culture.  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Speaking Spanish with a native-like accent does not matter to me. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Learning Spanish will help me become successful.  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Speaking a language other than English is not necessary to understand other cultures. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      There are no real advantages to speaking Spanish.  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      I like to mimic the way Spanish speakers sound because it is an important component of the language. Strongly agree  Strongly disagree  
      Learning about Spanish-speaking cultures helps to understand the world better  Strongly agree  Strongly disagree