%0 Journal Article
%T Differences in Attainment and Performance in a Foreign Language: The Role of Working Memory Capacity
%A Roger Gilabert
%A Carmen Muˋoz
%J International Journal of English Studies (IJES)
%D 2010
%I Universidad de Murcia
%R 10.6018/ijes.10.1.113961
%X The goal of this study is to investigate the role of working memory capacity in L2 attainment and performance. The study uses an L1 reading span task to measure working memory of a group of 59 high- intermediate/advanced learners of English, and a film retelling task to measure their oral production. The analysis first showed a moderate to high correlation between proficiency measured by a general proficiency test and learners＊ fluency, lexical complexity, and accuracy but not structural complexity on the retelling task. Secondly, no correlation was found between overall proficiency and working memory. Thirdly, a weak correlation was found between fluency and lexical complexity, and working memory. When the group was split into top and bottom levels of proficiency, moderate correlations were found between lexical complexity and working memory only for the high-proficiency group. The results are discussed in the light of previous research. El objetivo de este estudio es investigar el rol de la capacidad de memoria operativa en la proficiencia y la producci車n en una L2. El estudio utiliza una tarea de reading span en la L1 para medir la memoria operativa de un grupo de 59 estudiantes de ingl谷s de nivel intermedio alto/avanzado, y una tarea narrativa para medir su producci車n oral. Los an芍lisis muestran correlaciones significativas entre la proficiencia medida por un test de proficiencia general y la fluidez, complejidad l谷xica, y correcci車n, aunque no con la complejidad estructural. Las correlaciones tambi谷n son positivas y significativas entre la memoria operativa y la fluidez y complejidad l谷xica, pero no se observa una correlaci車n significativa entre la proficiencia general y la memoria operativa. Cuando se divide el grupo entre los niveles m芍s altos y m芍s bajos se encuentran correlaciones moderadas entre la complejidad l谷xica y la memoria operativa s車lo para el grupo de proficiencia alta. Los resultados se analizan en base a los escasos trabajos previos.
%K working memory
%K language learning aptitude
%K fluency
%K lexical complexity
%K structural complexity
%K accuracy
%K narrative performance
%U http://revistas.um.es/ijes/article/view/113961