The relationship between foreign language ability and achievement in other school subjects

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the ability to learn a foreign language and abilities in other school subjects at the high school level. The sample included 134 tenth grade students recruited through their English classes. Foreign language ability was measured by an Artificial Language test. Students completed a one-page questionnaire about their experience and exposure to foreign languages. Then they were given a set of new vocabulary and grammar rules. They were asked to translate phrases and complete fill-in-the-blank questions, utilizing the new grammar rules. These test scores were then correlated with various sub-sections of the nationally standardized 9th grade Terra Nova test and conclusions were based on significance levels for each variable considered. The results show a significant relationship between scores on the Artificial Language test and all sub-sections of the Terra Nova test. There were other factors, such as number of years in a foreign language classroom, which seemed to affect performance on the Artificial Language test