BALLI

Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory
(ESL Student Version)

Below are beliefs that some people have about learning foreign languages.

Read each statement and then decide if you:

(1) strongly agree, (2) agree, (3) neither agree or disagree (4) disagree (5) strongly disagree.

There are no right or wrong answers. We are simply interested in your opinions. Mark each answer on the special answer sheet. Question 4 & 15 are slightly different and you should mark them as indicated.

REMEMBER:

(1) strongly agree, (2) agree, (3) neither agree or disagree (4) disagree (5) strongly disagree.

1. It is easier for children than adults to learn a foreign language.
2. Some people have a special ability for learning foreign languages.
3. Some languages are easier to learn than others.
4. English is:

(a) a very difficult language

(b) a difficult language

(c) a language of medium difficulty

(d) an easy language

(e) a very easy language.

5. I believe that I will learn to speak English very well.
6. People from my country are good at learning foreign languages.
7. It is important to speak English with an exce3llent pronunciation.
8. It is necessary to know about English-speaking cultures in order to speak English.
9. You shouldn’t say anything in English until you can say it correctly.
10. It is easier for someone who already speaks a foreign language to learn another one.
11. People who are good at mathematics or science are not good at learning foreign languages.
12. It is best to learn English in an English-speaking country.
13. I enjoy practicing English with the Americans I meet.
14. It’s o.k. to guess if you don’t know a word in English.
15. If someone spent one hour a day learning a language, how long would it take them to speak the language very well:

(a) less than a year.

(b) 1-2 years

(c) 3-5 years

(d) 5-10 years

(e) You can’t learn a language in 1 hour a day.

16. I have a special ability for learning foreign languages.
17. The most important part of learning a foreign language is learning vocabulary words.
18. It is important to repeat and practice a lot.
19. Women are better than men at learning foreign languages.
20. People in my country feel that it is important to speak English.
21. I feel timid speaking English with other people.
22. If beginning students are permitted to make errors in English, it will be difficult for them to speak correctly later on.
23. The most important part of learning a foreign language is learning the grammar.
24. I would like to learn English so I can get to know Americans better.
25. It is easier to speak than understand a foreign language.
26. It is important to practice with cassettes or tapes.
27. Learning a foreign language is different than learning other academic subjects.
28. The most important part of learning English is learning how to translate from my native language.
29. If I learn English very well, I will have better opportunities for a good job.
30. People who speak more than one language are very intelligent.
31. I want to learn to speak English well.
32. Everyone can learn to speak a foreign language.
33. It is easier to read and write English than to speak and understand it.