Exploring the Impact of Bilingualism in Early Life on Foreign Language Learning for University Students in Lebanon - Analytics: Part II

Abstract

This study, part of two, analyzes how growing up in a bilingual or multilingual environment impacts foreign language learning abilities, focusing on Lebanese university students. A quantitative, deductive, and positivist approach is used. The sample of 153 Lebanese university students with different majors was selected purposively and conveniently based on the students' free will participation. A survey of four sections was used. It includes knowledge questions addressing different sets of attitudinal statements characterizing the students’ and their parents’ status, home habits, background, and practices of the English language; the attitude of students toward the English language along the three dimensions of Towers-Perrin’s ISR model; the family’s attachment to books, and demographics of the participants and their parents. Questions and statements were dyadic, multiple choice, and four- and five-level Likert scales. Collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 26.0 package. Data analysis used descriptive, factor, and linear regression analyses. This paper, part 2 of 2, provides the detailed quantitative analysis necessary to test the hypothesized research questions, review the proposed conceptual framework, and create a statistically revised framework. Results show the persistence and statistically supported Towers Perrin’s ISR model as a significant contributor to students’ motivation to learn a foreign language and improve performance. Most variables in the framework were statistically insignificant whereby the corresponding null hypotheses H01, H02, H03, H04, and H09, were accepted (i.e., unrelated variables) and null hypotheses H05, H06, H07, and H08 were rejected (i.e., related variables). Other determinants were explored and the resultant regression model affirmed this paper’s objective, i.e., bilingual students were motivated to learn a foreign language. Also, the students were encouraged by their bilingual parents who read to them at a young age. Findings contribute to theoretical and practical domains. Theoretically, the study offers insights into the relationship between early language exposure and subsequent language acquisition. The outcomes inform EFL teaching methods, curriculum design, and language policy initiatives in multilingual societies like Lebanon and others.