Work

Age‐Related Differences in Explicit and Implicit Foreign Language Aptitude: A Dual‐Pathway Model of Distinct Cognitive and Affective Mediators

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of age on foreign language aptitude (FLA) constituents and their underlying cognitive‐affective mechanisms. We recruited 85 Chinese‐English bilingual participants, categorized into two age groups: 44 adolescents aged 13–17 and 41 adults aged 18–25. Results revealed a double dissociation: adolescents outperformed adults in implicit language aptitude (ILA), while adults excelled in explicit language aptitude (ELA). Mediation analyses showed that selective attention (SA) fully accounted for age differences in ELA, whereas time perception partially mediated the age‐ILA relationship. These findings suggest that age influences FLA through distinct cognitive and affective pathways, with positive effects on ELA and negative effects on ILA. Based on these results, we propose the dual‐pathway model of age‐driven FLA (DP‐AFLA), which provides a framework for understanding how distinct cognitive‐affective mechanisms shape age‐related FLA patterns. This study advances theoretical understanding of age‐related FLA dynamics and offers practical insights for age‐tailored language instructional strategies.

Source: International Journal of Applied Linguistics

DOI: 10.1111/ijal.70109

Authors: Yan Huang, Dingyi Li, Jingzhi Ma, Yanan Hou, Ye Feng

Institutions: East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai International Studies University, Beijing Language and Culture 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

Funders: National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, National Social Science Fund Youth Project