Work

Should the Modern Language Aptitude Test Be Used to Determine Course Substitutions for and Waivers of the Foreign Language Requirement?

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: : 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 courses and to diagnose a “disability” for foreign language learning. However, the use of the MLAT for these purposes has both theoretical and psychometric problems. These problems include misusing the MLAT to diagnose a learning disability or to classify students with a disability for foreign language learning; using a single test score to recommend course substitutions and waivers; using outdated test norms; and misunderstanding of the foreign language aptitude concept. The authors conclude by describing appropriate and inappropriate uses of the MLAT.

Source: Foreign Language Annals

DOI: 10.1111/j.1944-9720.2005.tb02485.x

Authors: Richard L. Sparks, James Javorsky, Leonore Ganschow

Institutions: Mount St. Joseph University, University of Cincinnati, Oakland University, Miami University

Language: English

Topic: EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2053609707

FWCI: 14.87

Cites: 65

Cited by: 23

Related to: 10