ABSTRACT

Language Aptitude: Advancing Theory, Testing, Research and Practice brings together cutting-edge global perspectives on foreign language aptitude. Drawing from educational psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience, the editors have assembled interdisciplinary authors writing for an applied linguistics and education audience. The book is broken into five major themes: revisiting and updating current language aptitude theories and models; emerging insights from contemporary research into language aptitude and the age factor or the critical period hypothesis; redefining constructs and broadening territories of foreign language aptitude; exploring language aptitude from a neurocognitive perspective; and exploring future directions of foreign language aptitude research. Focused on critical issues in foreign language aptitude and second language learning and teaching, this book will be an important research resource and supplemental reading in both applied linguistics and cognitive psychology.

part I|84 pages

Revisiting and Updating Tests and Theories

part II|88 pages

Emerging Insights on Age and Ultimate Attainment

chapter 6|24 pages

Difficulty and Ease in Learning Foreign Languages at the Primary School Level

General Learning Ability, Language Aptitude, or Working Memory?

chapter 7|30 pages

Language Aptitude

Insights From US High School Students

chapter 8|15 pages

Language Aptitude

Insights From Hyperpolyglots

chapter 9|17 pages

Language Aptitude

Insights From L2 Adult Exceptional Learners

part III|72 pages

Redefining Cognitive Constructs and Models

part V|28 pages

Research Agenda and Future Directions