Language learning aptitude
Encyclopedia
Language learning aptitude refers to the “prediction of how well, relative to other individuals, an individual can learn a foreign language
in a given amount of time and under given conditions.”
As with many measures of aptitude, language learning aptitude is thought to be relatively stable throughout an individual’s lifetime.
, Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
, Modern Language Aptitude Test - Elementary
or Defense Language Aptitude Battery
, while attaining average or above-average scores on aptitude assessments in other areas, like general intelligence. A history of scoring poorly on an array of language aptitude tests taken at the appropriate time (MLAT-E for grades 3-6, PLAB
for grades 7-12, MLAT
for adults) can provide even stronger evidence for a language learning disability. Evidence can also come from comparing a poor past performance in foreign language courses with average or above-average performance in other courses unrelated to language learning.
The four ability components are defined as follows:
, also known for the Pimsleur language learning system
, spent time researching four factors that he believed to be related to language learning aptitude. Pimsleur included grade point average as an indication of general academic achievement as well as motivation in his factors. In addition, the verbal ability factor indicated how well a student would be able to handle the mechanics of learning a foreign language and the auditory factor indicated how well a student would be able to listen to and produce phrases in a foreign language. To test these four factors, Pimsleur developed the Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
, appropriate for students in grades 7-12.
, to help place employees in positions that require them to learn a new language.
Governmental agencies use the MLAT as a tool to select and place employees in intensive language training programs. Businesses and missionaries use the MLAT to select, place and plan for language training. Universities, colleges and high schools use the MLAT to help in the diagnosis of foreign language learning disabilities. Although each institution has its own policy, many will waive a foreign language requirement in cases of a foreign language learning disability in favor of a history or linguistic course.
Schools use the PLAB and MLAT-E to place students in suitable language courses, build a history of a foreign language learning difficulty, identify especially gifted students in respect to language learning and to match learning styles with instructional styles.
Foreign language
A foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...
in a given amount of time and under given conditions.”
As with many measures of aptitude, language learning aptitude is thought to be relatively stable throughout an individual’s lifetime.
| Measurement | Description |
|---|---|
| Modern Language Aptitude Test Modern Language Aptitude Test The Modern Language Aptitude Test was designed to predict a student’s likelihood of success and ease in learning a foreign language.The Modern Language Aptitude Test was developed to measure foreign language learning aptitude... |
mainly authored by John B. Carroll, appropriate for adults, mainly used by government and military institutions to select and place employees for language training |
| Defense Language Aptitude Battery Defense Language Aptitude Battery The Defense Language Aptitude Battery is a test used by the United States Department of Defense to test an individual's potential for learning a foreign language. It is used to determine who may pursue training as a military linguist. It consists of 126 multiple-choice questions, and the test is... |
developed and used by the United States Department of Defense United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense is the U.S... to select candidates for jobs that will require them to attain fluency in a foreign language |
| Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery The Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery is an assessment developed to predict student success in foreign language learning, or language learning aptitude, and for diagnosing language learning disabilities.... |
authored by Paul Pimsleur Paul Pimsleur Paul Pimsleur was a scholar in the field of applied linguistics.Pimsleur grew up in New York City and earned a bachelor's degree at the City College of New York and a Ph.D... , used to assess the language learning aptitude of students in grades 7 to 12 |
| Modern Language Aptitude Test – Elementary | mainly authored by John B. Carroll, appropriate for children in grades 3 to 6 |
| Cognitive Ability for Novelty in Acquisition of Language - Foreign CANAL-F The Cognitive Ability for Novelty in Acquisition of Language - Foreign is a test measuring language aptitude, or whether and how well a person can learn a second language. It was developed by Grigorenko, Sternberg, and Ehrman in 2000, using "acquisition processes" as a theoretical base. This is a... |
developed by Grigorenko, Sternberg, and Ehrman in 2000, using a new concept of language aptitude as a theoretical base |
Language learning disability
Some high schools, universities or other institutions will interpret low language learning aptitude as a sign of a language learning disability. A pattern of evidence from several sources can help to diagnose a foreign language learning disability. Evidence can come from scoring poorly on language learning aptitude assessments, like the Modern Language Aptitude TestModern Language Aptitude Test
The Modern Language Aptitude Test was designed to predict a student’s likelihood of success and ease in learning a foreign language.The Modern Language Aptitude Test was developed to measure foreign language learning aptitude...
, Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
The Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery is an assessment developed to predict student success in foreign language learning, or language learning aptitude, and for diagnosing language learning disabilities....
, Modern Language Aptitude Test - Elementary
Modern Language Aptitude Test
The Modern Language Aptitude Test was designed to predict a student’s likelihood of success and ease in learning a foreign language.The Modern Language Aptitude Test was developed to measure foreign language learning aptitude...
or Defense Language Aptitude Battery
Defense Language Aptitude Battery
The Defense Language Aptitude Battery is a test used by the United States Department of Defense to test an individual's potential for learning a foreign language. It is used to determine who may pursue training as a military linguist. It consists of 126 multiple-choice questions, and the test is...
, while attaining average or above-average scores on aptitude assessments in other areas, like general intelligence. A history of scoring poorly on an array of language aptitude tests taken at the appropriate time (MLAT-E for grades 3-6, PLAB
Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
The Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery is an assessment developed to predict student success in foreign language learning, or language learning aptitude, and for diagnosing language learning disabilities....
for grades 7-12, MLAT
Modern Language Aptitude Test
The Modern Language Aptitude Test was designed to predict a student’s likelihood of success and ease in learning a foreign language.The Modern Language Aptitude Test was developed to measure foreign language learning aptitude...
for adults) can provide even stronger evidence for a language learning disability. Evidence can also come from comparing a poor past performance in foreign language courses with average or above-average performance in other courses unrelated to language learning.
John B. Carroll
John B. Carroll, an influential psychologist in the field of educational linguistics, developed a theory about a cluster of four abilities that factored into language learning aptitude, separate from verbal intelligence and motivation. Using these four distinct abilities (phonetic coding ability, grammatical sensitivity, rote learning ability, and inductive learning ability), Carroll developed the MLAT, a language aptitude assessment for adults.The four ability components are defined as follows:
| Component | Definition |
|---|---|
| Phonetic coding ability | ability to perceive distinct sounds, associate a symbol with that sound and retain that association |
| Grammatical sensitivity | ability to recognize the grammatical function of a lexical element (word, phrase, etc.) in a sentence without explicit training in grammar |
| Rote learning ability | ability to learn associations between words in a foreign language and their meanings and retain that association |
| Inductive learning ability | ability to infer or induce rules governing the structure of a language |
Paul Pimsleur
Paul PimsleurPaul Pimsleur
Paul Pimsleur was a scholar in the field of applied linguistics.Pimsleur grew up in New York City and earned a bachelor's degree at the City College of New York and a Ph.D...
, also known for the Pimsleur language learning system
Pimsleur language learning system
The Pimsleur language learning system is a language acquisition method developed by Paul Pimsleur. The system is based on four main ideas: anticipation, graduated interval recall, core vocabulary, and organic learning. The Pimsleur method is an audio-based system, in which the listener constructs...
, spent time researching four factors that he believed to be related to language learning aptitude. Pimsleur included grade point average as an indication of general academic achievement as well as motivation in his factors. In addition, the verbal ability factor indicated how well a student would be able to handle the mechanics of learning a foreign language and the auditory factor indicated how well a student would be able to listen to and produce phrases in a foreign language. To test these four factors, Pimsleur developed the Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery
The Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery is an assessment developed to predict student success in foreign language learning, or language learning aptitude, and for diagnosing language learning disabilities....
, appropriate for students in grades 7-12.
Uses of aptitude measurement
Measurements of language learning aptitude are used in many different ways. The United States Department of Defense uses a measurement of language learning aptitude, the Defense Language Aptitude BatteryDefense Language Aptitude Battery
The Defense Language Aptitude Battery is a test used by the United States Department of Defense to test an individual's potential for learning a foreign language. It is used to determine who may pursue training as a military linguist. It consists of 126 multiple-choice questions, and the test is...
, to help place employees in positions that require them to learn a new language.
Governmental agencies use the MLAT as a tool to select and place employees in intensive language training programs. Businesses and missionaries use the MLAT to select, place and plan for language training. Universities, colleges and high schools use the MLAT to help in the diagnosis of foreign language learning disabilities. Although each institution has its own policy, many will waive a foreign language requirement in cases of a foreign language learning disability in favor of a history or linguistic course.
Schools use the PLAB and MLAT-E to place students in suitable language courses, build a history of a foreign language learning difficulty, identify especially gifted students in respect to language learning and to match learning styles with instructional styles.
External links
- Language Aptitude Reconsidered
- Second Language Testing Inc.
- LDOnline
- Foreign language aptitude in young learners
Resources
- Carroll, John B. and Stanley Sapon. Modern Language Aptitude Test: Manual 2002 Edition. Bethesda, MD: Second Language Testing, Inc., 2002.
- Carroll, John B. and Stanley M. Sapon. Modern Language Aptitude Test – Elementary: Manual, 2002 Edition. Rockville, MD: Second Language Testing, Inc., 2002.
- Pimsleur, Paul, Daniel J. Reed and Charles W. Stansfield. Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery: Manual, 2004 Edition. Bethesda, MD: Second Language Testing, Inc., 2004.
- Stansfield, Charles W. “Language Aptitude Reconsidered.” ERIC Digest. Washington DC: ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, 1989.