Foreign language departments have been decreasing in size in recent years. This study aims to determine how cultural associations affect motivation to, or to not, study German at the college level. The field of psycholinguistics encompasses research that takes a psychological perspective on foreign language learning. Previous studies have delved into motivation within the foreign language classroom, where as this study focuses on cultural associations that potentially affect enrollment in foreign language classes. Americans develop cultural associations from individual exposure to foreign language or culture. The result of which may affects one’s proclivity towards later foreign language learning. The survey gathers information regarding history of foreign language learning before college and has open-ended questions for subjects to express their associations to the German language, German culture, and any potential connection they may perceive towards German language, culture, or German-speaking countries.
