Measuring foreign language learning aptitude. polish adaptation of the modern language aptitude test by carroll and sapon

Abstract

This article sets itself two main aims. The first is to describe the rationale behind the decision to adapt for Polish learners the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) by Carroll and Sapon (1959), rather than to develop a new measure. The reasons behind the decision are discussed in the context of the relevant individual differences (ID) research in Poland and the need for a reliable and theoretically valid measure of foreign language (FL) aptitude for L1 Polish is articulated. The other aim is to describe the development, piloting and initial validation of the Polish MLAT-based adaptation of a new measure of FL aptitude. Two methods of test adaptation (translation and paraphrase) are discussed and justified with relation to the current project. It was decided that all four components of FL aptitude, as proposed by Carroll (1981), would be represented in the Polish adaptation of the MLAT. The piloting was done on approximately 200 secondary school learners aged 19, while the data for the initial validation study, in the form of second language (L2) English proficiency test results as well as simple measures of motivation, length of study, social background and others, came from ca. 250 subjects, aged 18-22. © 2008, Versita. All rights reserved.