Représentations du français et d’autres langues étrangères chez les étudiants de philologie romane

This article presents the results of a questionnaire aiming at exploring the students’ linguistic profile, as well as their representations of French and other foreign languages that they have learnt. The representation is treated as a possible triggering factor of motivation and, therefore, a useful element in planning possible strategies of stimulating or enhancing students’ motivation. The study shows that the students are multilingual and interested in foreign languages and cultures. The French language, inducing the most positive representations, is described as a beautiful and lovable language, attractive due to its sonority and culture, whereas the English language, also learnt by almost all the students, is associated in particular with pleasant learning process and its utility. Other Romance languages, studied mostly at the university, are perceived as languages of second choice, which sometimes manage nonetheless to fascinate the learners by their beauty or culture. The language eliciting the most hostile representations is the German language, generally not appreciated and learned only as a compulsory school subject. In order to promote efficiently the French studies, it seems important to emphasise the utility of this language, propagate it along with its culture and foster quality teaching