The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influences of elementary, middle and high school teachers` negative languages(TNL) on students. TNL in this study included vulgarism, disregarding words, curses and insulting words, and threaten...
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influences of elementary, middle and high school teachers` negative languages(TNL) on students. TNL in this study included vulgarism, disregarding words, curses and insulting words, and threatening words teachers would use in the classroom. Students and teachers were sampled in three different areas, big city, medium city and rural area. Students were consisted of 626 6th graders (331 boys, 295 girls), 572 8th graders (286 boys and 286 girls) and 598 11th graders (296 boys and 302 girls). Teachers were comprised of 316 elementary school teachers(EST) (129 males. 181 females, 6 not responded), 297 middle school teachers(MST)(93 males 204 females), and 224 high school teachers(HST) (167 males 57 females). The questionnaires, asking frequencies of and emotional responses to TNL for the students and teachers, were developed by the researcher based on a previous study. Main results were as follows: 1. Teachers answered to use all kinds of NL in the classroom. However, they thought to use less NL (about 1/5-1/3) than their students recognized. 2. 6th graders` answered hearing less TNL(16-30%) than 8th and 11th graders(45-74%). 3. Roys rather than girls were the main subjects of TNL such as insulting words. disregarding words, and vulgarism. 4. The usage of TNL were different depending on teacher`s age, area, and sex. In general, male and young teachers used more NL. 5. MST, generally, used more NL than EST and HST. 6. students had extremely negative feelings for the TNL, especially for the insulting and/or threatening words. 7. Teachers recognized negative influences of their NL on students and tried to use positive language, but still not enough. 8. Language program needs to develop for pre-service and in-service teacher training courses. 9. Teachers need to investigate and improve their everyday languages and communication style using several methods such as tape recording.