Exploratory research on second language practice distribution: An Aptitude × Treatment interaction

The current exploratory study aimed at investigating the role of cognitive aptitudes in determining the effect of practice distribution on second language learning. The study investigated to what extent language-analytic ability and working-memory capacity predicted the acquisition of grammar under...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Applied psycholinguistics 2017-01, Vol.38 (1), p.27-56
Main Authors:	SUZUKI, YUICHI, DEKEYSER, ROBERT
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Cognition & reasoning Cognitive ability Foreign language learning Japanese language Language Learning Learning processes Memory Morphosyntax Second language learning Short term memory Studies Training
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	The current exploratory study aimed at investigating the role of cognitive aptitudes in determining the effect of practice distribution on second language learning. The study investigated to what extent language-analytic ability and working-memory capacity predicted the acquisition of grammar under two learning conditions that differ in the interval between the two training sessions. Learners of Japanese as a second language were trained on an element of Japanese morphosyntax under either distributed practice (7-day interval) or massed practice (1-day interval). The results revealed that language-analytic ability was only related to performance after distributed practice, whereas working-memory capacity was only related to performance after massed practice. These Aptitude × Treatment interaction findings can help establish the learning processes operating under distributed/massed practice conditions.
ISSN:	0142-7164 1469-1817