Foreign language learning ability.

Abstract

This report on 2 studies of factors involved in learning French is based on 23 tests administered to 208 students in college French, and on 22 tests administered to 202 additional students a year later. The factors extracted and rotated in each study included: Verbal, Reasoning, Speed of Articulation, Pitch Discrimination, Timbre Discrimination, Interest, and Biographic. Multiple correlation test selection analyses resulted in (a) R = .65, using 6 tests to predict Cooperative French Test scores; (b) R = .41, using 5 tests to predict aural comprehension; and (c) R = .41, using 5 tests to predict speaking proficiency. Verbal IQ and Interest (motivation) appear to be the most important factors in college foreign language learning; Reasoning, Word Fluency, and Pitch Discrimination also contribute.