Language-learning aptitude

Language learning aptitude refers to the "prediction of how well, relative to other individuals, an individual can learn a foreign language in a given amount of time and under given conditions".^[1] Foreign language aptitude itself has been defined as a set of cognitive abilities which predicts L2 learning rate, or how fast learners can increase their proficiency in a second or foreign language, and L2 ultimate attainment, or how close learners will get to being able to communicate like a native in a second or foreign language, both in classroom and real-world situations.^[2] Understanding aptitude is crucial for a complete picture of the process of second language acquisition. Knowledge about language aptitude has profound impacts in the field of Applied Linguistics, particularly in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theory and in the practice of teaching and learning languages.^[3]

As a concept with historical origins in education and psychology, its application in applied linguistics will constantly be influenced by the latest findings in those disciplines of study. Recent neuroscientific advancements contributed to expanding our understanding of language aptitude beyond traditional psychometric approaches. For instance, Turker et al. (2021) suggest that language aptitude emerges from a combination of advantageous brain structural features, particularly in the auditory cortex and other language-related regions, efficient neural connectivity, and environmental influences. Several studies have established correlations between language learning capability and specific brain characteristics, such as increased grey matter volumes in auditory areas, optimized white matter connectivity in the arcuate fasciculus, and more efficient neural activation patterns during language tasks (Turker et al., 2021). Furthermore, while early definitions highlighted the stability of language aptitude, recent research by Huang et al (2022) has shown that intensive language learning experiences can enhance specific components of language aptitude and other related cognitive abilities, such as working memory, indicating that specific aspects of language aptitude may be more dynamic than what was previously thought to be. Moreover, Pishghadam et al. (2023) have suggested broadening language aptitude assessment to include cultural and emotional-sensory aspects, complementing the neurocognitive insights. Pishghadam et al.'s (2023) research argues that traditional aptitude tests capture only a limited range of cognitive abilities, ignoring the significant influence of cultural sensitivity and emotional engagement in language learning. This multidimensional approach posits that language aptitude includes neurobiological predisposition, sociocultural awareness, and emotional responsiveness to linguistic stimuli, variables that may demonstrate individual differences in learning outcomes not solely attributable to cognitive measures. This evolving, comprehensive understanding emphasizes that language aptitude is a complex, multifaceted construct that is influenced by both predispositions and continuous neuroplastic changes across the lifespan. Following a revolution in studies of human cognition over the last few decades and major contributions, especially from the fields of cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience, our understanding of human cognitive abilities has increased significantly. In other words, contemporary discussions of foreign language aptitude in applied linguistics would be substantially insufficient if not for research advances in other fields.^[4]

As with many measures of aptitude, language learning aptitude is thought to be relatively stable once a person matures.