| Peer-Reviewed

Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners

Received: 4 November 2021    Accepted: 10 January 2022    Published: 20 January 2022
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Interest and research in foreign language aptitude in the last three decades has portrayed a strong passion across various disciplines of applied linguistics, psycholinguistics and behavioral studies, especially concerning working memory. Moreover, extroversion and introversion as personality traits are among the most important personality dimensions that can affect language learning to a great extent. This study investigated the significance of differences between language aptitude and working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, 47 ninth grade Iranian EFL learners were selected randomly from five different high schools in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The instruments used in this study were a LLAMA test for measuring language aptitude, an N-back test for measuring working memory, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for dividing participants into extrovert and introvert categories. In order to check the normality assumption of the obtained scores, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was run. To answer the research questions both the Mann-Whitney U test and independent-samples t-test were used. The results depicted that there was not any significant difference between working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. Furthermore, no statistical significant difference in the language aptitude of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners was identified. Current research addresses some theoretical and practical insights for teachers and researchers especially interested in psycholinguistics research.

Published in Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14
Page(s) 17-24
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Language Aptitude, Working Memory, Extrovert, Introvert, Iranian EFL Learners

References
[1] Acheson, D. J., & Mac Donald, M. C. (2009). Twisting tongues and memories: Explorations of the relationship between language production and verbal working memory. Journal of Memory and Language, 60, 329–350.
[2] Ahmadian, M. J. (2012). The relationship between working memory capacity and oral L2 performance under task-based careful online planning condition. TESOL Quarterly., 46, 165-175.
[3] Arabski, J. (1998). Insight into Foreign Language Acquisition and Teaching. Katowic: Wydawnictwo.
[4] Baddeley, A. (2000). The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? Trends in cognitive sciences, 4 (11), 417–423.
[5] Baddeley, A. D. (2002). Is working memory still working? European Psychologist, 7, 85–97.
[6] Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch G. (1974). Working memory the psychology of learning and motivation. New York: Academic Press.
[7] Barker, L. A. (2016). Working memory in the classroom: An inside look at the central executive. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 5 (3), 180-193.
[8] Biedron, A. (2011). Personality factors as predictors of foreign language aptitude. Studies in second language learning and teaching, 1 (4), 23
[9] Bylund, E., & Abrahamsson, N. (2010). The role of language aptitude in first language attrition: the case of pre-pubescent attriters. Applied Linguistics, 31 (3), 443–464.
[10] Carroll, J. B. (1981). Human cognitive abilities: A survey of factor-analytic studies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
[11] Carroll, J. B. (1981). Twenty-five years of research on foreign language aptitude. In K. C. Diller (ed.), Individual differences and universals in language. Learning aptitude (pp. 83–118). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
[12] Cohen, J. W. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd Ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associate.
[13] Cox-Fuenzalida, L. E., Angie, A., Holloway, S., & Sohl, L. (2006). Extroversion and task performance: A fresh look through the workload history lens. Journal of Research in Personality, 40 (4), 432–439.
[14] Dornyei, Z., & Skehan, P. (2003). 18 Individual Differences in Second Language Learning. The handbook of second language acquisition, (pp. 589). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
[15] Ehrman, M. E., & Oxford, R. (1995). Cognition plus: correlates of language learning success. The Modern Language Journal, 79, 67–89.
[16] Ellis, R. (2005). Planning and task-based research: theory and research. In R. Ellis (Ed.). Planning and Task-Performance in a Second Language. (pp. 3-34). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
[17] Emmorey, K., Giezen, M. R., Petrich, J. A. F., Spurgeon, E., & O'Grady Farnady, L. (2017). The relation between working memory and language comprehension in signers and speakers. Acta psychologica, 177, 69–77.
[18] Eysenck, H. J. (1985). Manual of the Eysenck personality scales (EPS Adult). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[19] Eysenck, S. B., & Chan, J. (1982). A comparative study of personality in adults and children: Hong Kong vs England. Personality and individual differences, 3 (2), 153–160.
[20] Gathercole, S. E., & Baddeley, A. D. (1993) Working Memory and Language. East Sussex: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
[21] Gray, W. D., Schoelles, M. J., Bringsjord, S. A., Burrows, K., & Colder, B. (2003). Sage: Five powerful ideas for studying and transforming the intelligence analyst's task environment. Annual Conference of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 47 (8), 1019–1023.
[22] Hamedi, S. M., Akbari, O., Hamedi, S. M., & Hamedi, S. M. (2015). An investigation of the extroverts-introverts speaking anxiety in english classes. Studies in English Language Teaching, 3 (3), 284–294.
[23] Henry, L. (2012). The Development of Working Memory in Children. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
[24] Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Shah, P. (2011). Short- and long-term benefits of cognitive training. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108 (25), 10081–10086.
[25] Jaeggi, S. M., Studer Luethi, B., Buschkuehl, M., Yi Fen, S., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J. (2010). The relationship between n-back performance and matrix reasoning – implications for training and transfer. Intelligence, 38 (6), 625–635
[26] Jafarpour Boroujeni, A. A., Roohani, A., & Hasanimanesh, A. (2017). The impact of extroversion and introversion personality types on EFL learners writing ability. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 5 (1), 212–218.
[27] Johann, V. E., & Karbach, J. (2021). The relations between personality, components of executive functions, and intelligence in children and young adults. Psychological Research, 1-14.
[28] Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2002). The role of prefrontal cortex in working memory capacity, executive attention, and general fluid intelligence: an individual-differences perspective. Psychonom, 5 (24), 214–223.
[29] Kocic, A. (2019). The effects of aptitude on language learning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 304 (5), 876–997.
[30] Li, S. (2018). Language aptitude. In A. Burns & J. Richards (Eds.), The Cambridge guide to learning English as a second language (pp. 63–72). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[31] Lieberman, M. D. (2000). Introversion and working memory: Central executive differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 28 (3), 479–486.
[32] Lieberman, M., & Rosenthal, R. (2001). Why Introverts Can't Always Tell Who Likes Them: Multitasking and Nonverbal Decoding. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 80 (2), 294-310.
[33] Long, M. H., & Granena, G. (2018). Sensitive periods and language aptitude in second language acquisition. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 21 (5), 926–927.
[34] Meara, P. (2005). LLAMA tests. Swansea: Lognostics.
[35] Myers, I., & Briggs, C. (1985). The MBTI. Journal of Psychological, 13 (2), 31–50.
[36] Nowbakht, M. (2019). The role of working memory, language proficiency, and learners’ age in second language English learners’ processing and comprehension of anaphoric sentences. Journal of psycholinguistic research, 48 (2), 353-370.
[37] Oktriani, R. A., Damayanti, I., & Hardiah, M. (2021). A comparative study between extrovert and introvert student’s achievement in English conversation course. Journal of English Education and Teaching. 5 (4), 582-593.
[38] Oz, H. (2014). Big five personality traits and willingness to communicate among foreign language learners in turkey. Social Behaviour & Personality: An International Journal, 42 (9), 1473–1482.
[39] Rees, J. (2000). Predicting the future of foreign language aptitude. In S. Cornwell & P. Robinson (Eds.), Individual differences in foreign language learning: Effects of aptitude, intelligence and motivation. Tokyo: Aoyama Gakuin University.
[40] Robinson, P. (2002). Individual Differences and Instructed Language Learning. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
[41] Skehan, P. (1989). Individual Differences in Second Language Learning. London: Edward Arnold.
[42] Skehan, P. (2014). Foreign language aptitude and its relationship with grammar: a critical overview. Applied Linguistics, 36 (3), 367–384.
[43] Smith, M., & Stansfield, C. W. (2017). Testing aptitude for second language learning. In e. Shohamy, I. G. Or, & S. May (Eds.), Language Testing and Assessment (pp. 77–90). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
[44] Waris, O., Soveri, A., Lukasik, K. M., Lehtonen, M., & Laine, M. (2018). Working memory and the Big Five. Personality and Individual Differences, 130, 26–35.
[45] Zafar, S., & Meenakshi, K. (2012). A study on the relationship between extroversion–introversion and risk–taking in the context of second language acquisition. International Journal of Research Studies in Language Learning, 1 (1), 33–40.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Rezvaneh Karimzadeh, Farzad Sabeki. (2022). Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 8(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Rezvaneh Karimzadeh; Farzad Sabeki. Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2022, 8(1), 17-24. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Rezvaneh Karimzadeh, Farzad Sabeki. Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners. Commun Linguist Stud. 2022;8(1):17-24. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14,
      author = {Rezvaneh Karimzadeh and Farzad Sabeki},
      title = {Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners},
      journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {17-24},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20220801.14},
      abstract = {Interest and research in foreign language aptitude in the last three decades has portrayed a strong passion across various disciplines of applied linguistics, psycholinguistics and behavioral studies, especially concerning working memory. Moreover, extroversion and introversion as personality traits are among the most important personality dimensions that can affect language learning to a great extent. This study investigated the significance of differences between language aptitude and working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, 47 ninth grade Iranian EFL learners were selected randomly from five different high schools in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The instruments used in this study were a LLAMA test for measuring language aptitude, an N-back test for measuring working memory, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for dividing participants into extrovert and introvert categories. In order to check the normality assumption of the obtained scores, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was run. To answer the research questions both the Mann-Whitney U test and independent-samples t-test were used. The results depicted that there was not any significant difference between working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. Furthermore, no statistical significant difference in the language aptitude of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners was identified. Current research addresses some theoretical and practical insights for teachers and researchers especially interested in psycholinguistics research.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Differential Study of Language Aptitude and Working Memory of Extrovert and Introvert Iranian EFL Learners
    AU  - Rezvaneh Karimzadeh
    AU  - Farzad Sabeki
    Y1  - 2022/01/20
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14
    T2  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
    JF  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
    JO  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
    SP  - 17
    EP  - 24
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2380-2529
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20220801.14
    AB  - Interest and research in foreign language aptitude in the last three decades has portrayed a strong passion across various disciplines of applied linguistics, psycholinguistics and behavioral studies, especially concerning working memory. Moreover, extroversion and introversion as personality traits are among the most important personality dimensions that can affect language learning to a great extent. This study investigated the significance of differences between language aptitude and working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, 47 ninth grade Iranian EFL learners were selected randomly from five different high schools in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The instruments used in this study were a LLAMA test for measuring language aptitude, an N-back test for measuring working memory, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for dividing participants into extrovert and introvert categories. In order to check the normality assumption of the obtained scores, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was run. To answer the research questions both the Mann-Whitney U test and independent-samples t-test were used. The results depicted that there was not any significant difference between working memory of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners. Furthermore, no statistical significant difference in the language aptitude of extrovert and introvert Iranian EFL learners was identified. Current research addresses some theoretical and practical insights for teachers and researchers especially interested in psycholinguistics research.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Education, Ministry of Education, Saravan, Iran

  • Department of English Language and Literature, University of Sistan & Balucestan, Zahedan, Iran

  • Sections