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A Measure of Proficiency or Short‐Term Memory? Validation of an Elicited Imitation Test for SLA Research
Author(s) -
KIM YOUJIN,
TRACY–VENTURA NICOLE,
JUNG YEONJOO
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the modern language journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.486
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1540-4781
pISSN - 0026-7902
DOI - 10.1111/modl.12346
Subject(s) - memory span , imitation , test (biology) , active listening , psychology , short term memory , measure (data warehouse) , cognitive psychology , language proficiency , linguistics , computer science , working memory , cognition , communication , social psychology , paleontology , pedagogy , philosophy , database , neuroscience , biology
Elicited imitation requires listeners to listen and repeat sentences as accurately as possible. In second language acquisition (SLA) research it has been used for a variety of purposes. Recently, versions of the same elicited imitation test (EIT) have been created in 6 languages with the purpose of measuring second language proficiency (Ortega et al., [Ortega, L., 2002]; Tracy–Ventura et al., 2014; Wu & Ortega, [Wu, S.–L., 2013]). The validity of these EITs has been tested, and results are promising. However, questions remain regarding the extent to which EIT performance is mediated by learners’ memory span. The current study validates a new Korean EIT following the Ortega et al. ([Ortega, L., 2002]) design and, as part of that, investigates the potential role of phonological short‐term memory in test performance. Korean as a second language learners ( N = 66) took the following tests over 2 days: the Korean EIT, the listening section of the standardized Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), a speaking test, and a forward digit span test in their first language. Results indicated significant positive correlations between EIT scores and the various proficiency measures, but a weak and nonsignificant correlation between the EIT and forward digit span scores. Together, these results provide support for this EIT as a valid and reliable proficiency measure for use in SLA research.