Validating the theory-informed Tests of Aptitude for Language Learning (TALL) as predictors of L2 proficiency: Initial evidence from multiple regression analyses

IF 5.2 1区文学 Q1 LINGUISTICS

Studies in Second Language Acquisition Pub Date : 2026-10-06 DOI:10.1017/s0272263126101995

Junlan Pan, Emma Marsden

{"title":"Validating the theory-informed Tests of Aptitude for Language Learning (TALL) as predictors of L2 proficiency: Initial evidence from multiple regression analyses","authors":"Junlan Pan, Emma Marsden","doi":"10.1017/s0272263126101995","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Tests of Aptitude for Language Learning (TALL) is a newly developed battery for L1 Chinese speakers that operationalizes language aptitude based on the early stages of Skehan’s (2016) Stages Approach through parallel aural and written suites. Each suite comprises subtests measuring associative memory, phonetic coding ability, language analytic ability, phonological short-term memory, and executive function of working memory. Using openly available data, this study examined TALL’s predictive validity through multiple regression analyses. Results from 165 L1-Chinese L2-English learners showed that the composite scores on the aural and written suites accounted for 12.5% and 13.1% of the variance in L2 proficiency, respectively. Models based on individual subtest scores accounted for 17.0% of the variance in L2 proficiency in the aural suite and 19.7% in the written suite. Dominance analyses identified language analytic and phonetic coding abilities as the strongest predictors, whereas other components contributed minimally. These findings provide initial evidence that TALL scores predict L2 proficiency. The study also offers a replicable procedure to facilitate further validation of this new battery. (Received 4 November 2025; revised 7 June 2026; accepted 6 August 2026) Keywords: aptitude battery; language aptitude; predictive validity","PeriodicalId":22008,"journal":{"name":"Studies in Second Language Acquisition","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-27"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Studies in Second Language Acquisition","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/s0272263126101995","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"LINGUISTICS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Tests of Aptitude for Language Learning (TALL) is a newly developed battery for L1 Chinese speakers that operationalizes language aptitude based on the early stages of Skehan’s (2016) Stages Approach through parallel aural and written suites. Each suite comprises subtests measuring associative memory, phonetic coding ability, language analytic ability, phonological short-term memory, and executive function of working memory. Using openly available data, this study examined TALL’s predictive validity through multiple regression analyses. Results from 165 L1-Chinese L2-English learners showed that the composite scores on the aural and written suites accounted for 12.5% and 13.1% of the variance in L2 proficiency, respectively. Models based on individual subtest scores accounted for 17.0% of the variance in L2 proficiency in the aural suite and 19.7% in the written suite. Dominance analyses identified language analytic and phonetic coding abilities as the strongest predictors, whereas other components contributed minimally. These findings provide initial evidence that TALL scores predict L2 proficiency. The study also offers a replicable procedure to facilitate further validation of this new battery. (Received 4 November 2025; revised 7 June 2026; accepted 6 August 2026) Keywords: aptitude battery; language aptitude; predictive validity

查看原文本刊更多论文

验证基于理论的语言学习能力倾向测试（TALL）作为二语熟练程度预测因子：来自多元回归分析的初步证据

语言学习能力测试（TALL）是一套针对母语汉语使用者的新开发的测试系统，它基于Skehan（2016）阶段方法的早期阶段，通过平行的听觉和书面套件来操作语言能力。每组测试包括联想记忆、语音编码能力、语言分析能力、语音短期记忆和工作记忆执行功能的子测试。本研究利用公开数据，通过多元回归分析检验了TALL的预测效度。对165名L1-Chinese L2- english学习者的调查结果显示，听力和书面组合分数分别占第二语言熟练度方差的12.5%和13.1%。基于个体子测试分数的模型在听力组中占第二语言熟练程度方差的17.0%，在书面组中占19.7%。优势分析发现语言分析和语音编码能力是最强的预测因素，而其他因素的影响最小。这些发现提供了初步证据，表明TALL分数可以预测第二语言的熟练程度。该研究还提供了一个可复制的程序，以促进这种新电池的进一步验证。（2025年11月4日收稿，2026年6月7日修稿，2026年8月6日收稿）关键词：aptitude电池；语言能力;预测效度

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Studies in Second Language Acquisition LINGUISTICS-

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

9.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： Studies in Second Language Acquisition is a refereed journal of international scope devoted to the scientific discussion of acquisition or use of non-native and heritage languages. Each volume (five issues) contains research articles of either a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods nature in addition to essays on current theoretical matters. Other rubrics include shorter articles such as Replication Studies, Critical Commentaries, and Research Reports.