INVESTIGATING THE TRIPATRITE MODEL OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE LINGUISTICS STUDENTS IN UNIZIK

Abstract

This study investigated the tripartite model of attitudes towards foreign languagelearning among undergraduate linguistics students in Awka, Nigeria. The tripartitemodel posits that attitudes consist of three interrelated components: cognitive,affective, and behavioural. The study aimed to examine the extent to which thistheoretical framework explains the attitudes of linguistics students towards learningforeign languages. A sample of 165 undergraduate students from the Department ofLinguistics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka participated in the cross-sectionalstudy. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted fromprevious language attitude research, including items from established instrumentssuch as the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB). The questionnaire gathereddemographic information and assessed the students' cognitive, affective, andbehavioural attitudes towards learning the foreign language course- Chinese, French,and German languages, together with the correlation between these three attitudesthat make up the model. The findings revealed that the students held overall positiveaffective and behavioural attitudes towards foreign language learning, despiteexhibiting mixed cognitive views. Students identified teaching methods and peerlearning as important factors shaping their attitudes. The results provided supportfor the tripartite conceptualization of attitudes in the foreign language learningcontext. The study highlighted the need to address the cognitive, affective, andbehavioural aspects of attitudes in order to foster more positive dispositionstowards learning new languages among linguistics students. Recommendations areprovided for enhanced scaffolding, pragmatic immersion, and targeting initialobstacles and lower proficiency areas to strengthen students' learning experiencesand outcomes through evidence-based program refinement.