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How useful are native language tests for research with advanced second language users?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2023

Hanke Vermeiren Open the ORCID record for Hanke Vermeiren [Opens in a new window]  and
Marc Brysbaert Open the ORCID record for Marc Brysbaert [Opens in a new window]
Hanke Vermeiren*
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Marc Brysbaert
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
*
Corresponding author: Hanke Vermeiren, KU Leuven campus Kulak Kortrijk, Etienne Sabbelaan 51, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium E-mail: hanke.vermeiren@kuleuven.be
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Abstract

We investigated the extent to which language tests developed for native speakers (L1) can be used with advanced speakers of a second language (L2). We compared the performance of Dutch–English bilinguals with that of native English speakers on a series of English language tests, looking at vocabulary knowledge, crystallized intelligence, reading comprehension, and reading speed. It was found that advanced L2 speakers know fewer L2 words than native speakers and take longer to read texts but perform equally well on text comprehension. Tests optimized for native English-speakers predicted text comprehension less well than tests better adapted to the skill level of the bilinguals (which include the Lextale test). An exploratory graphical analysis suggested that L2 users’ performance on challenging vocabulary tests, along with performance on an English author recognition test, forms a distinct cluster – arguably also measuring interest in English language and culture besides knowledge in general (also called crystallized intelligence).

Keywords

vocabulary testsecond language researchreading comprehensiongeneral knowledge

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Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 2024 , pp. 204 - 213
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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This article has earned badges for transparent research practices: Open Data and Open Materials. For details see the Data Availability Statement.

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