Abstract

The current study aims to investigate learning difficulties in L3 German experienced by the Turkish undergraduate students. The target group involved 29 students from three academic programs at a state university in Turkey: Travel Management and Tourist Guiding, Tourism and Hotel Management and Aviation Management. In the study, semi-structured interview form was designed by the researcher as data collection tool. In the analysis process of the data, the thematic analysis procedure was conducted. The results of the study indicated that the Turkish undergraduate students had learning difficulties in L3 German due to three main factors such as linguistic facts, effective factors and external factors. The linguistic facts involve the learning difficulties related to the linguistic characteristics of German language, linguistic habitus (effect of L2 English) and the effect of L1. In the context of effective factors, it was discussed that the lack of motivation, negative attitudes towards German language, the level of readiness for learning L3 German and the lack of self-confidence lead the students to experience negative learning process in L3 German. Finally, socio-cultural developments and the financial matters emerging in the learning environment were considered as external factors that lead the students to have difficulties in learning L3 German.

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