Arab World English Journal (AWEJ).Vol.6 No.1, March 2015                                                                   Pp. 3-21

Aptitude as a Predictor of Second Language Achievement: An Investigation in the Saudi Arabian Context

Christo Moskovsky

School of Humanities & Social Science,
The University of Newcastle, Australia

Merzin Alshahrani

King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia

Silvia Ratcheva

School of Humanities & Social Science
The University of Newcastle, Australia

Stefania Paolini

School of Psychology,
The University of Newcastle, Australia

Abstract:

A two-wave longitudinal design was used to examine the extent to which aptitude predicts second language achievement. First-year Saudi university students (= 56), who were involved in a seven-month intensive English language course as part of their degree, completed Aptitude and English proficiency tests at the start and the end of the treatment period. Univariate and multivariate analyses found moderate relationships between aptitude and second language achievement. Results are discussed for their implications for theory and interventions.

Cite as:

Moskovsky, C., Alshahrani, M., &  Paolini, S. (2015). Aptitude as a Predictor of Second Language Achievement: An Investigation in the Saudi Arabian Context. Arab World English Journal, 8 (1).

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Christo Moskovsky:
Dr. Christo Moskovsky is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where he
has been involved in postgraduate education and research in applied linguistics. He has
conducted and/or supervised a wide range of projects on issues of second language acquisition.
He has authored and co-authored a number of publications in this field of study, including in
TESOL Quarterly and Language Learning.