Although the high-variability training method can enhance learning of non-native speech categories, this can depend on individuals' aptitude. The current study asked how general the effects of perceptual aptitude are by testing whether they occur with training materials spoken by native speakers and whether they depend on the nature of the to-be-learned material. Forty-five native Dutch listene...

The topic of the workshop from which this volume comes, “Individual Differences in Second Language Learning,” is timely and important for both practical and theoretical reasons. The practical reasons are obvious: While many people have some knowledge of a second or further language, there is enormous variability in how well they know these languages. Much of this variability is, of course, like...

Background. Renal dialysis has recently been recognised as a risk factor for lower limb amputation (LLA). However, exact rates and associated risk factors for the LLA are incompletely understood. Aim. Prevalence and risk factors of LLA in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) subjects on renal dialysis were investigated from the existing literature. Methods. Published data on the subject were derived ...

In this paper I report on the development of an application in which HTML forms serve as a front-end to a lexical database. Lexical information and data retrieval strategies are based on the Longman Language Activator. A Visual Basic CGI application connects a front end HTML form with the back-end relational database implemented using Microsoft Access. Three aspects of the applcation are discus...

This study aims to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR)-based learning environment on learners of different spatial visualization abilities. The findings of the aptitude-bytreatment interaction study have shown that learners benefit most from the Guided VR mode, irrespective of their spatial visualization abilities. This indicates that the VR-based learning environment is able to ser...

Contrary to studies on speech learning of consonants and vowels, the issue individual variability is less well understood in lexical tones. Whereas existing have focused contour-tone (Mandarin) by listeners without experience a tonal language, this study addressed research gap investigating perceptual level-tone contrasts (Cantonese) learners with system (Mandarin). Critically, we sought answer...

The present study was carried out with the aim of finding gender gap in a recent aptitude test, the Cognitive Ability for Novelty in Acquisition of Language (CANAL-FT) as applied to foreign language test designed by Grigorenko et al. (2002).  For the purposes of this research, 126 undergraduate students (95 females and 31 males) all majoring in English at Shiraz Azad University participated in ...

This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence effective speaking of English as a foreign language (EFL) in higher education. Data were collected through an open-ended, in-depth interview with seven interviewees and analyzed using thematic analysis (TA) technique. The results showed six significant themes related student speaking: aptitude, motivation, opportunity, learning media, s...