Interactions between bilingual language proficiency and exposure: comparing subjective and objective measures across modalities in bilingual young adults

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to the varying aspects of the bilingual experience and the use of numerous subjective and objective measures across studies, bilingual individuals are often described and grouped differently. We examined the relationship among two subjective and one objective English proficiency measures in spoken and written modalities in 64 bilingual young adults with different levels of English exposure. Participants with high and medium English exposure performed similarly and better than participants with low English exposure across proficiency measures. Participants with high English exposure showed the most consistency in their performance across measures and modalities. Their performance on subjective and objective measures in both spoken and written modalities were strongly correlated. In the medium-exposure group, subjective and objective measures in both modalities were moderately correlated, but only as measured by a self-rated questionnaire. In the low-exposure group, subjective and objective measures in both modalities were moderately correlated, but only as measured by subjective ‘Can-Do’ statements in the spoken modality. Based on our findings, most proficiency measures provide accurate outcomes for Englishspeakers with high exposure and for balanced bilingual individuals. In contrast, more research is needed with English language learners or individuals with low language exposure to determine the most efficient proficiency measure.