The present work attracted our attention motivated by the need of seeking ways of helping people learning EFL, with certain "disabilities" than undertaking a research project by itself. The needs for implementing those special program in our country is out of the question, since to the extent that our society and country has been…

Relationships between foreign language learning and four characteristics--anxiety, aptitude, attitudes and attributions for success--were investigated for 95 students enrolled in introductory level Spanish classes at a large, southeastern university in the United States. Examination grades resulted in significantly positive correlation with an…

Despite the lack of empirical evidence, the term "foreign language learning disability" (FLLD) has become popular in the learning disabilities (LD) and foreign language literature. I contend that there is not a unique "disability" for foreign language learning and suggest instead that foreign language skills run along a continuum of very strong to…

This article presents an interview with Dr. John Bissell Carroll, who was considered by many to be the premier psychologist in the 20th century in terms of contributions to educational linguistics. In retrospect, this occasion has very special significance, as it was one of the last interviews that Dr. Carroll granted near the end of his…

This study examines results of a factor analysis on a battery of native language and foreign language aptitude tests administered to 80 high school students enrolled in first semester foreign language classes. Thirty-six students were identified as low risk, 29 as high risk, and 15 as learning disabled. (68 references) (JL)

Colleges and universities often permit students classified as learning disabled (LD) and other students not classified as LD to substitute courses for or waive the foreign language requirement. The Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) has become an increasingly popular assessment tool to determine which students can or cannot pass foreign language…

Beginning foreign language (FL) courses in high school often have high numbers of learning disabled (LED) and at-risk students, perhaps because many students who are considered to be college bound begin foreign language study in middle school. This paper examines FL difficulties as well as effective strategies that others have used to conquer…

Modern Language Aptitude Test scores of regular students (N=244) enrolled in introductory foreign language classes were compared with their foreign language course performance. The fourth and fifth subtests predicted ability to learn a foreign language. Learning disabled (N=51) university students scored poorly on all five subtests. (DB)

Recently, talk of a new type of learning disability (LD)--a foreign language learning disability, or FLLD--has made its way into the LD and foreign language (FL) literature. However, no empirical evidence has been published to support the concept of a "disability" for FL learning by those professionals who use the term. In this article, the author…

In response to a previous article, this article addresses issues raised about the identification of subjects as learning disabled and the use of the Modern Language Aptitude Test as a predictor of success. (JL)

Two years of language study is a requirement in most colleges and universities for many degree programs and, at the high school level, an expectation for college-bound students. However, some very capable students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) have difficulty learning a second language. Recent research has identified characteristics of…

Discusses cognitive, affective, and linguistic influences on foreign language learning. It proposes the Linguistic Coding Differences Hypothesis (LCDH) model for understanding foreign language learning problems. The empirical support for the LCDH model is reviewed. Diagnostic, pedagogical, and policy implications are addressed. (Author/DB)

In response to an earlier article on foreign language learning disabilities in college students, the article reports on a similar study using the Modern Language Aptitude Test and concludes that, as yet, tests are not adequate to determine a disability affecting foreign language learning. (DB)

In this interview, two collaborators in research on teaching foreign languages to learning-disabled students are questioned regarding specific foreign language learning disabilities, possible subtypes, diagnosis, policies of colleges regarding students unable to meet foreign language requirements, and recent research in the field. (PB)

Two studies that included high school students classified as at risk for learning a foreign language are described. The first compared at-risk students classified as learning disabled with at-risk students not classified as LD. The second investigated only students classified as LD, comparing them with and without discrepancies between their…