Book Description

This study explores the relationship between the modern language teacher and various curricular influences. The effect of these influences was specifically examined in relation to the teacher's level of job satisfaction. The literature review explores research on job satisfaction generally, teacher job satisfaction specifically, and studies concerning teacher attitude and the personal and situational factors acting as curricular influences. Initial analysis of a questionnaire provides a description of the sample (365 teachers), measures of job satisfaction, and rating for each of the curricular influence items by their means. The analysis discloses four correlations between job satisfaction and personal factors. Female teachers were generally more satisfied than male teachers. Non-foreign language specialists were more satisfied than foreign language specialists. Significant positive linear relationships existed between job satisfaction and age, and between job satisfaction and total years of teaching. The responding modern language teachers showed a high level of job satisfaction and their overall response indicated concern with specific curricular influences, significantly related to job satisfaction for three-fifths of the items, and identifiable by factor analysis. (Author/JK)