Effects of processing tasks on children's learning of second language words

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of different semantic tasks (pleasantness-rating and translation reading-aloud) and structural tasks (letter-counting and word-copying) on Chinese-speaking children's learning of English words. Participants' memory of first language (L1) counterparts for second language (L2) words and learning of L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping were respectively assessed via the L1 free recall, L2 free recall, and picture-cued L2 recall tests. Logistic mixed-effects regression modeling yielded the following findings. First, pleasantness-rating and letter-counting had minimal impact on the acquisition of L2 word knowledge, except that letter-counting significantly facilitated the recall of L2 word phonology. Second, translation reading-aloud and word-copying positively influenced L2 word acquisition, although the former did not significantly affect phonology learning. Third, translation reading-aloud outperformed pleasantness-rating when it came to recalling L1 counterparts and learning L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping, and word-copying was more effective than letter-counting in the learning of L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping. These findings partially support the transfer appropriate processing (TAP) framework and confirm the predictions of the processing-resource allocation (TOPRA) model, although some divergent results—most likely attributable to methodological difference—were observed. Additionally, these results offer valuable instructional implications.