Learning a language by satellite television: What influences student achievement?

Abstract A group of 107 students participated in a major study exploring the factors that influence language achievement when instruction is delivered by satellite television. Factors included the students' motivation, learning styles, learning strategy use, gender, previous language learning experience, and course level. Motivation was by far the most significant determiner of achievement, and learning strategy use was also very influential. Gender and learning style (visual, auditory, and hands-on) played potentially important roles, although previous language learning and course level were not especially explanatory. Specific implications are included for satellite language teaching, a delivery system that promises to become more widely used throughout the world as advances in technology continue.