Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Verbal Aptitude Levels of Prospective English Teachers: A Study in an EFL Context

Year 2020, Volume: 53 Issue: 3, 1105 - 1128, 01.12.2020

Gülşah Tıkız Ertürk Murat Ata

https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.607178

Abstract

Verbal aptitude is described as the ability to use the written language and to grasp concepts which are delivered through words. Aptitude plays a prominent role in foreign language learning. The studies conducted by researchers resulted in a sociopsychological theory of second or foreign language learning. The theory holds that any successful learner of a second/foreign language must be ready to adopt the certain aspects and linguistic and social factors of the target language. However, scrutinizing the potential differences between aptitude levels and other variables such as gender, age, and learners’ grade point average scores could yield to significant results and these results would be prolific for language teachers. The current study is a quantitative study with cross-sectional research design the purpose of which is to determine the aptitude levels and check if the aptitude levels of the participants reveal differences in relation to the variables of the population characteristics. The aim of this study is to reveal if there are any differences of prospective English teachers’ aptitude levels by their age, gender and GPA scores. This descriptive quantitative study is of cross-sectional design. 101 prospective English teachers participated in the study. For the purpose of tracing the aptitude levels of participants and revealing the possible differences between their aptitude levels and other variables, the participants were given a 40-item multiple choice verbal aptitude test embodying items which measure their ability to spell words correctly, use grammar accurately, grasp word meanings and word relationships. The data were analyzed with SPSS 22 program. The results revealed that having information about the language aptitude levels might help researchers to have a better understanding about the language learners, the milieu of learning, and the learning outcomes. The results were presented within the light of the related literature. The ethics committee approval report was not added into the body of this study since the manuscript had been submitted into the system of the journal before the decision concerning the ethical committe approval was issued.

Keywords

Language aptitude verbal aptitude prospective teachers language learning

References

  • Bold, M. (2001). University of North Texas Center for Parent Education. Retrieved from < http://www.unt.edu/cpe/module3blk2survey2.htm.>, May 16, 2004.
  • Carroll, J. (1963). A model of school learning. Teachers College Record, 64, 723–733.
  • Carroll, J. B. (1964). Language and thought. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
  • Carroll, J. B. (1981). Twenty-five years of research on foreign language aptitude. In K. Diller (Ed.), Individual differences and universals in language learning aptitude (pp. 83-118). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
  • Carroll, J. B., & Sapon, S. M. (1959). Modern language aptitude test (MLAT). New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Cochran, J., R., McCallum & S. Bell. (2010). Three A’s: How do attributions, attitudes, and aptitude contribute to foreign language learning? Foreign Language Annals, 43, 566–582.
  • Creswell, J. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.
  • Cronbach, L. & R. Snow (1977). Aptitudes and Instructional Methods: A handbook for research on interactions. Oxford: Irvington Publishers, Inc.
  • DeKeyser, R. & Koeth, J. (2011). Cognitive Aptitudes for Second Language Learning. In Hinkel, E. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2). (pp. 395-406) New York: Routledge.
  • DeKeyser, R. M. (2000). The robustness of critical period effects in second language acquisition. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 22, 499–533.
  • DeKeyser, R. M., & Koeth, J. (2011). Cognitive aptitudes for second language learning. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2, pp. 395–406). London: Routledge.
  • Donald K. K., Shawn M. G. & Bruce K. B. (1987). Writing Persuasive Documents, The Journal of Experimental Education, 55/2, 95-102.Gardner, R., & MacIntyre, P. (1992). A student’s contribution to second language learning. Part I: Cognitive variables. Language Teaching, 25, 211–220.Granena, G. (2012). Age differences and cognitive aptitudes for implicit and explicit learning in ultimate second language attainment (Published Doctoral dissertation).Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2013). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343.
  • Hinkel, E. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2). New York: Routledge.
  • Holliday, W. G., Whittaker, H. G., & Loose, K. D. (1984). Differential effects of verbal aptitude and study questions on comprehension of science concepts. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 21(2), 143-150.
  • Leedy, P. & Ormrod, J. (2001). Practical research: Planning and design (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
  • Li, S. (2015). The associations between language aptitude and second language grammar acquisition: A meta-analytic review of five decades of research. Applied Linguistics, 36(3), 385-408.
  • Robinson, P. 2005. Aptitude and second language acquisition. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 25, 46–73.
  • Skehan, P. (1989). Individual differences in second language learning. London: Edward Arnold.
  • Skehan, P. (1989). Individual differences in second language learning. London: Arnold.
  • Skehan, P. (1998). A cognitive approach to learning language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Snow, R. E. (1991). Aptitude-treatment interaction as a framework for research on individual differences in psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59/ 2, 205–216.
  • Sparks, R. L., Patton, J., Ganschow, L., Humbach, N., & Javorsky, J. (2006). Native language predictors of foreign language proficiency and foreign language aptitude. Annals of Dyslexia, 56(1), 129-160.
  • Sparks, R.,& Ganschow, L. (2001). Aptitude for learning a foreign language. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 21, 371–391.

İngilizce Öğretmen Adaylarının Sözel Yatkınlık Düzeyleri: Yabancı Dil Öğretimi Bağlamında Bir Çalışma

Year 2020, Volume: 53 Issue: 3, 1105 - 1128, 01.12.2020

Gülşah Tıkız Ertürk Murat Ata

https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.607178

Abstract

Yabancı dil yatkınlığı, yazılı dili kullanma ve sözcüklerle sunulan kavramları anlama yeteneği olarak tanımlanır. Yatkınlık, yabancı dil öğreniminde önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Araştırmacılar tarafından yürütülen çalışmalar, sosyo-psikolojik bir yabancı dil (ikinci dil) öğrenimi kuramının tartışılmasının gerekliliği üzerinde yoğunlaşmaktadır. Kuram, ikinci bir dilin başarılı biçimde öğrenilmesi için başarılı bir yabancı dil öğrencisinin hedef dildeki belli dilsel ve sosyal etkenleri benimsemesi gerektiği yönündedir. Ancak, katılımcıların yatkınlık düzeylerinde onların yaş, cinsiyet ve not ortalama puanları gibi değişkenlere göre herhangi bir değişiklik olup olmadığının araştırılması ve ortaya çıkarılması yabancı dil öğretmenleri için önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı katılımcıların sözel yatkınlık düzeylerinin yaş, cinsiyet ve not ortalamaları gibi değişkenlere göre bir farklılık gösterip göstermediğini saptamaktır. Çalışma kesitsel modelli nicel bir çalışmadır. Araştırmaya 101 İngilizce öğretmeni adayı katılmıştır. Yabancı dile yatkınlık düzeyleri ile diğer değişkenlere göre anlamlı bir farklılık olup olmadığını saptamak için katılımcılara sözcükleri doğru heceleyebilme, doğru dilbilgisi kullanma, sözcük anlamlarını anlama ve sözcüğü anlama yeteneğini ölçen öğeleri içeren 40 maddelik çoktan seçmeli bir sözel yatkınlık testi uygulanmıştır. Veriler SPSS 22 programı ile çözümlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, dil yatkınlık düzeyleri hakkında bilgi sahibi olmanın, araştırmacıların dil öğrencileri, öğrenme ortamı ve öğrenme çıktıları hakkında daha iyi bir anlayış edinmelerine yardımcı olabileceğini göstermektedir. Sonuçlar ilgili alanyazın ışığında sunulmuştur. Bu çalışma etik kurul onayı ile ilgili karar verilmeden önce derginin sistemine yüklenmiş olduğu için etik kurul onay raporu bu çalışmaya eklenmemiştir.

Keywords

Dil yatkınlığı sözel yatkınlık öğretmen adayları dil öğrenme

References

  • Bold, M. (2001). University of North Texas Center for Parent Education. Retrieved from < http://www.unt.edu/cpe/module3blk2survey2.htm.>, May 16, 2004.
  • Carroll, J. (1963). A model of school learning. Teachers College Record, 64, 723–733.
  • Carroll, J. B. (1964). Language and thought. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
  • Carroll, J. B. (1981). Twenty-five years of research on foreign language aptitude. In K. Diller (Ed.), Individual differences and universals in language learning aptitude (pp. 83-118). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
  • Carroll, J. B., & Sapon, S. M. (1959). Modern language aptitude test (MLAT). New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Cochran, J., R., McCallum & S. Bell. (2010). Three A’s: How do attributions, attitudes, and aptitude contribute to foreign language learning? Foreign Language Annals, 43, 566–582.
  • Creswell, J. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.
  • Cronbach, L. & R. Snow (1977). Aptitudes and Instructional Methods: A handbook for research on interactions. Oxford: Irvington Publishers, Inc.
  • DeKeyser, R. & Koeth, J. (2011). Cognitive Aptitudes for Second Language Learning. In Hinkel, E. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2). (pp. 395-406) New York: Routledge.
  • DeKeyser, R. M. (2000). The robustness of critical period effects in second language acquisition. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 22, 499–533.
  • DeKeyser, R. M., & Koeth, J. (2011). Cognitive aptitudes for second language learning. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2, pp. 395–406). London: Routledge.
  • Donald K. K., Shawn M. G. & Bruce K. B. (1987). Writing Persuasive Documents, The Journal of Experimental Education, 55/2, 95-102.Gardner, R., & MacIntyre, P. (1992). A student’s contribution to second language learning. Part I: Cognitive variables. Language Teaching, 25, 211–220.Granena, G. (2012). Age differences and cognitive aptitudes for implicit and explicit learning in ultimate second language attainment (Published Doctoral dissertation).Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2013). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343.
  • Hinkel, E. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (Vol. 2). New York: Routledge.
  • Holliday, W. G., Whittaker, H. G., & Loose, K. D. (1984). Differential effects of verbal aptitude and study questions on comprehension of science concepts. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 21(2), 143-150.
  • Leedy, P. & Ormrod, J. (2001). Practical research: Planning and design (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
  • Li, S. (2015). The associations between language aptitude and second language grammar acquisition: A meta-analytic review of five decades of research. Applied Linguistics, 36(3), 385-408.
  • Robinson, P. 2005. Aptitude and second language acquisition. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 25, 46–73.
  • Skehan, P. (1989). Individual differences in second language learning. London: Edward Arnold.
  • Skehan, P. (1989). Individual differences in second language learning. London: Arnold.
  • Skehan, P. (1998). A cognitive approach to learning language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Snow, R. E. (1991). Aptitude-treatment interaction as a framework for research on individual differences in psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59/ 2, 205–216.
  • Sparks, R. L., Patton, J., Ganschow, L., Humbach, N., & Javorsky, J. (2006). Native language predictors of foreign language proficiency and foreign language aptitude. Annals of Dyslexia, 56(1), 129-160.
  • Sparks, R.,& Ganschow, L. (2001). Aptitude for learning a foreign language. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 21, 371–391.
There are 23 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Studies on Education
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Gülşah Tıkız Ertürk 0000-0001-5803-1270

Murat Ata 0000-0001-8822-5105

Publication Date December 1, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Volume: 53 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Tıkız Ertürk, G., & Ata, M. (2020). Verbal Aptitude Levels of Prospective English Teachers: A Study in an EFL Context. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES), 53(3), 1105-1128. https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.607178
 Download Cover Image

Creative Commons LicenseThe content of the Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License