Correlational Research On Rote Learning Ability As A Factor Of Language Aptitude

Rote learning ability, as one of the four components of foreign language aptitude, is an important cognitive factor in foreign language learning. Since the middle of the last century, the measurement of foreign language aptitude, as the means to determine the success of foreign language learning, has developed greatly in the western world. But the measurement of the rote learning ability and the correlational research on rote learning ability and foreign language aptitude have undergone unsatisfactory development in China. Therefore, the correlational research on rote learning ability and foreign language aptitude is of significance to the field of foreign language learning and teaching.This thesis is from the psycholinguistic perspective, joint with the definition of memory and rote learning ability in the category of psychology and aims to test the subjects with the measurements devised in the experiment. Analysis is made on the basis of the results reached by the subjects. The results obtained by this thesis are of reliability to some extent.The central part of the thesis is the test designing and the experiment. The test logic and designing have been illustrated in this thesis. The designing is mainly based on the method specifically to measure rote learning ability, proposed by Duncan Harris in his masterpiece Evaluating and Assessing for Learning. He advances that the pure memory ability can be tested by means of mnemonics, graphs and numbers. Three test forms are in accordance with his ideas. In addition, non-word test is also designed, which can better reflect the correlation between rote learning ability andforeign language aptitude.The experiment is also demonstrated in the thesis. The process of the experiment, collection and analysis of data and the discussion of the results are expounded. Therefore, the conclusions reached in this research are scientifically grounded.Specially, the conclusions reached by this study are:1. The probability is high that foreign language aptitude does exist in Chinese foreign language learners and rote learning ability is found to be a part of this aptitude.2. The rote learning ability does not play a decisive role in language learning ability. Low correlation has been found out between rote learning ability and foreign language aptitude indicated by the results of the test of colors, figures and graphs.3. Memory ability takes a positive influence on language learning, if the learners can use the tactics of meaningful memory. There is no correlation between pure memory ability and foreign language learning.These significant findings are of referential academic values for promoting the researches on psycholinguistics, applied linguistics and foreign language teaching.