Hello! This is an academic survey aimed at understanding your language education experiences during lower secondary school (Form 1–4), your current language attitudes, and your views on national identity and language education policies. The survey is anonymous, and there are no right or wrong answers. Please answer based on your true thoughts and memories. Thank you for your participation!
Part 1: Basic Information1.Your gender:
Male Female Other / Prefer not to say
2.Your year of study : First year Second year Third year Fourth year or above
3.Your university major category: Humanities/Social Sciences Science/Engineering Education Medicine Business/Management Other
4.The location of your lower secondary school (Form 1–4) was mainly: City Town Rural area
5.The type of your lower secondary school (Form 1–4) was: Public school Private school Religious school Other / Not sure
6.The language most often spoken at home is: Swahili English Ethnic language Two or more mixed
7.The first language you learned to speak is: Swahili English Ethnic language
8.Does your family often communicate using two or more languages? Yes No
9.Parents' highest education level (choose the higher one) : Primary or below Junior secondary Senior secondary or vocational College/University Master's or above Not sure
10.How do you perceive your family's economic situation? Relatively difficult Average Relatively good
Part 2: Recalling Your Lower Secondary School Language Learning Experiences *Please answer based on your actual experiences during lower secondary school (Form 1–4). .* Please rate your language proficiency at the end of lower secondary school (1 = very weak, 5 = very strong). 11. Your Swahili proficiency at the end of lower secondary school 12. Your English proficiency at the end of lower secondary school 13. Your ethnic language proficiency at the end of lower secondary school 14. In most non-language subjects (e.g., mathematics, science) during lower secondary school, what language did the teacher mainly use for instruction? Almost entirely Swahili Mostly Swahili, a little English Roughly half Swahili and half English Mostly English, a little Swahili Almost entirely English
15.When you first entered lower secondary school and the medium of instruction shifted from mainly Swahili in primary school to more English, how did you adapt? Very difficult, could hardly understand Somewhat difficult Moderate Somewhat easy Very easy
16.In lower secondary school classes, when you couldn't understand the English explanation, what did you usually do? Dare not ask questions Try to ask in Swahili Try to ask in English Ask classmates or teachers in Swahili after class Ask classmates or teachers in English after class
17.When you needed to ask questions or seek help, which language did you mainly use? Swahili English Mixed Swahili and English Depends on the situation Not applicable
18.During lower secondary school, were you ever criticized, stopped, or punished by a teacher for using Swahili or your ethnic language at school? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Almost always
19.When learning difficult new knowledge (e.g., mathematics, science), would you like the teacher to appropriately use Swahili to help explain? Very unwilling Somewhat unwilling Neutral Somewhat willing Very willing
20a. Overall, how did the use of English as the main language of instruction in lower secondary school affect your understanding of mathematics? Very negative Somewhat negative No noticeable effect Somewhat positive Very positive
20b. Overall, how did the use of English as the main language of instruction in lower secondary school affect your understanding of science? Very negative Somewhat negative No noticeable effect Somewhat positive Very positive
21.How clear is your memory of your lower secondary school language learning experiences? Very vague Somewhat vague Moderate Somewhat clear Very clear
Part 3: Your Reflection on Teaching Support in Lower Secondary School very inconsistent
very consistent
22. When the class content was difficult, the teacher would explain in a way that was easier for students to understand. very inconsistent
very consistent
23. The teacher would appropriately use Swahili when necessary to help students understand key content. very inconsistent
very consistent
24. The examples and content in lower secondary school textbooks were relatively close to my life experiences. very inconsistent
very consistent
25. During lower secondary school, the school provided good support for English learning (e.g., practice, tutoring, materials). very inconsistent
very consistent
26. The language used at home influenced my adaptation to English-medium instruction in lower secondary school. very inconsistent
very consistent
Part 4: Your Current Language Proficiency and Language Attitudes Please rate your current language proficiency (1 = very weak, 5 = very strong).
27. Your current Swahili proficiency 28. Your current English proficiency 29. Your current ethnic language proficiency Please select according to your true thoughts (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). 30. I am proud to speak Swahili. strongly disagree
strongly agree
31. I am proud to speak English. strongly disagree
strongly agree
32. I am proud to speak my ethnic language. strongly disagree
strongly agree
33. Swahili helps communication and unity among different ethnic groups. strongly disagree
strongly agree
34. Learning English is very important for entering university, employment, and future development. strongly disagree
strongly agree
35. Learning my ethnic language helps preserve and pass on my ethnic culture. strongly disagree
strongly agree
36. In formal education, appropriately using students' familiar languages helps learning. strongly disagree
strongly agree
37. Different languages each have their own value; no language should be completely excluded. strongly disagree
strongly agree
Part 5: National Identity Please select according to your true thoughts (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). 38. I am proud to be Tanzanian. strongly disagree
strongly agree
39. Swahili strengthens my sense of belonging as a Tanzanian. strongly disagree
strongly agree
40. When I see Swahili used on national symbols such as the coat of arms, currency, or passport, I feel proud. strongly disagree
strongly agree
41. The national anthem sung in Swahili is meaningful to me. strongly disagree
strongly agree
42. Swahili helps people from different ethnic groups feel they belong to one nation. strongly disagree
strongly agree
43. I am willing to obey the laws and public rules of Tanzania. strongly disagree
strongly agree
44. I am willing to contribute to the development of Tanzania. strongly disagree
strongly agree
45. I care about the development and future of Tanzania. strongly disagree
strongly agree
46. I feel that I belong to the same national community with people from other regions and ethnic groups in Tanzania. strongly disagree
strongly agree
47. I recognise the importance of maintaining social order through national laws and public rules. strongly disagree
strongly agree
48. I believe that national stability, order, and unity are important for everyone. strongly disagree
strongly agree
49. I am proud of the history of Tanzanian people's resistance against colonial rule. strongly disagree
strongly agree
50. I believe that the shared history of independence is important for the unity of Tanzanians. strongly disagree
strongly agree
51. School education about national independence, unity, and shared history strengthens my sense of belonging to Tanzania. strongly disagree
strongly agree
52. Learning about Tanzania's history makes me identify more with my country. strongly disagree
strongly agree
53. I believe that the shared history of different ethnic groups helps strengthen national identity. strongly disagree
strongly agree
54.How familiar are you with Tanzania's language education arrangement of "mainly Swahili in primary school, higher English requirements in lower secondary school"? Not at all familiar Slightly familiar Moderately familiar Familiar Very familiar
55.Do you support increasing the auxiliary use of Swahili in non-language subjects (e.g., mathematics, science) during lower secondary school? Strongly oppose Oppose Neither support nor oppose Support Strongly support
Please rate the extent to which you agree with the following statements (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). 56. I believe that the arrangement of "mainly Swahili in primary school, higher English requirements in lower secondary school" is beneficial to most students' learning and development. strongly disagree
strongly agree
57. I believe that this language education arrangement puts rural students at a disadvantage. strongly disagree
strongly agree
58. I believe that this language education arrangement is consistent with students' actual language learning processes. strongly disagree
strongly agree
59. In your opinion, the gap between urban and rural students in opportunities to learn English is: Very large Large Moderate Small Almost no gap
60.Which of the following do you think the government should prioritise for improvement? (Multiple choices, up to 3) Improve the level of rural English teachers Improve English teaching methods and examination methods Increase support for Swahili as an auxiliary language in lower secondary school Strengthen the connection between textbook content and students' lives and cultural backgrounds Reserve appropriate space for ethnic languages and local cultures Other
61.Do you have any suggestions for Tanzania's language education policies?
Thank you for your participation!