Affective variables and oral English proficiency of Mexican American migrant students

This study attempted to replicate Gardner and Lambert's (1972) research in Canada concerning the importance of attitudes and motivation and second-language acquisition. The major focus of the study was to investigate a particular set of affective variables and their relationship to oral English proficiency of adolescent Mexican American migrant students. Attitudinal variables selected were the following: (1) attitude toward Anglo American culture; (2) identification with Anglo American culture; (3) lack of identification with either culture (anomie); (4) preference to associate with (a) Mexican Americans who usually speak Spanish, (b) Mexican Americans who usually speak English, (c) Anglo Americans who usually speak English, (d) Anglo Americans who usually speak Spanish; and (5) a motivational orientation for learning a second language, two dimensions of this orientation being instrumental and integrative.