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Investigating the Contribution of L1 Fluency, L2 Initial Fluency, Working Memory and Phonological Memory to L2 Fluency Development

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Title: Investigating the Contribution of L1 Fluency, L2 Initial Fluency, Working Memory and Phonological Memory to L2 Fluency Development
Language: English
Authors: Nancy Gagné (ORCID 0000-0003-0996-2540), Leif M. French, Kirsten M. Hummel
Source: Language Teaching Research. 2025 29(2):633-656.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 6
Intermediate Grades
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Language Fluency, Short Term Memory, Native Language, Second Language Learning, Oral Language, Outcomes of Education, Second Language Instruction, French, Grade 6, Intensive Language Courses, Pictorial Stimuli, Cues, Task Analysis, Language Proficiency, Cognitive Tests, Foreign Countries, Phonology, Word Recognition, Predictor Variables, Learning Processes, Transfer of Training
Geographic Terms: Canada
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, Digit Span Test
DOI: 10.1177/13621688221076418
ISSN: 1362-1688
1477-0954
Abstract: Within the same learning context, learners' outcomes in terms of oral fluency vary greatly. This study tracked the relative contributions that first language (L1) and initial second language (L2) fluency skill and working memory (WM) made to L2 fluency development. We assessed the performance of French-speaking Grade 6 learners' (n = 47, mean age: 11) in a 10-month intensive English program in Quebec, Canada using a picture-cue monologic task based on The Suitcase Story and a semi-structured interview based on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Working memory was assessed using a backward digit span task and phonological memory (PM) via non-word repetition and serial non-word recognition tasks. Overall, results suggest that L1 fluency, WM and PM played only a minor role in learners' L2 fluency outcomes, whereas learners' pre-program levels of L2 fluency constituted an important predictor of L2 fluency development regardless of the speech task used to index fluency.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1469837
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Investigating the Contribution of L1 Fluency, L2 Initial Fluency, Working Memory and Phonological Memory to L2 Fluency Development
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nancy+Gagné%22">Nancy Gagné</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0996-2540">0000-0003-0996-2540</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leif+M%2E+French%22">Leif M. French</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirsten+M%2E+Hummel%22">Kirsten M. Hummel</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Teaching+Research%22"><i>Language Teaching Research</i></searchLink>. 2025 29(2):633-656.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 24
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Fluency%22">Language Fluency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Short+Term+Memory%22">Short Term Memory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Language%22">Oral Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Instruction%22">Second Language Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22French%22">French</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intensive+Language+Courses%22">Intensive Language Courses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pictorial+Stimuli%22">Pictorial Stimuli</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cues%22">Cues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+Analysis%22">Task Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Tests%22">Cognitive Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phonology%22">Phonology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Word+Recognition%22">Word Recognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Processes%22">Learning Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transfer+of+Training%22">Transfer of Training</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22ACTFL+Oral+Proficiency+Interview%22">ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Digit+Span+Test%22">Digit Span Test</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/13621688221076418
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  Data: 1362-1688<br />1477-0954
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Within the same learning context, learners' outcomes in terms of oral fluency vary greatly. This study tracked the relative contributions that first language (L1) and initial second language (L2) fluency skill and working memory (WM) made to L2 fluency development. We assessed the performance of French-speaking Grade 6 learners' (n = 47, mean age: 11) in a 10-month intensive English program in Quebec, Canada using a picture-cue monologic task based on The Suitcase Story and a semi-structured interview based on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Working memory was assessed using a backward digit span task and phonological memory (PM) via non-word repetition and serial non-word recognition tasks. Overall, results suggest that L1 fluency, WM and PM played only a minor role in learners' L2 fluency outcomes, whereas learners' pre-program levels of L2 fluency constituted an important predictor of L2 fluency development regardless of the speech task used to index fluency.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1469837
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        Value: 10.1177/13621688221076418
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      – Text: English
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        StartPage: 633
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Language Fluency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Short Term Memory
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      – SubjectFull: Native Language
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      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
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      – TitleFull: Investigating the Contribution of L1 Fluency, L2 Initial Fluency, Working Memory and Phonological Memory to L2 Fluency Development
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