Effects of Direct Instruction in Spanish Phonology on the Native-Language Skills and Foreign-Language Aptitude of At-Risk Foreign-Language Learners
- 1 February 1995
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Learning Disabilities
- Vol. 28 (2), 107-120
- https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949502800205
Abstract
This study examined the effect of an academic year of direct instruction in the phonology/orthography of Spanish on the native-language skills and foreign-language aptitude of high school women identified as at risk (n = 14) and not at risk (n = 19) for experiencing problems with learning a foreign language. At-risk students received a specialized teaching approach; not-at-risk students received traditional foreign-language instruction. Pre- and posttest results showed that both groups improved significantly on a foreign-language aptitude test, and the at-risk group made significant gains on native-language phonology/orthography measures. Pretest comparisons showed significant between-group differences on several phonological/orthographic measures and the foreign-language aptitude test. Posttest comparisons showed that the not-at-risk subjects still scored significantly higher than at-risk subjects on the foreign-language aptitude measure; no differences were noted on two native-language phonological/orthographic measures. Pre- and posttest comparisons between groups showed that the at-risk group made significantly greater gains than the not-at-risk group on phonological/orthographic measures. Implications for instruction are presented.Keywords
This publication has 42 references indexed in Scilit:
- Differences in Language Performance among High‐, Average‐, and Low‐Anxious College Foreign Language LearnersThe Modern Language Journal, 1994
- “Foreign” Language Learning Disabilities: Issues, Research, and Teaching ImplicationsPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1993
- Identifying Native Language Difficulties Among Foreign Language Learners in College: A "Foreign" Language Learning Disability?Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1991
- A Screening Instrument for the Identification of Foreign Language Learning ProblemsForeign Language Annals, 1991
- Foreign Language Study and SAT‐Verbal ScoresThe Modern Language Journal, 1987
- The Foreign Language Requirement: An Alternative ProgramForeign Language Annals, 1987
- Rhyme and Reason in Reading and SpellingPublished by University of Michigan Library ,1985
- Identifying Student Learning Styles: Proceed With Caution!The Modern Language Journal, 1984
- Categorizing sounds and learning to read—a causal connectionNature, 1983
- Examining the Benefits and Prevalence of Modality Considerations in Special EducationThe Journal of Special Education, 1977