Variables That Influence Language Proficiency in Students from Public and Private High Schools in Mexico

Autor/inn/en	Eccius-Wellman, Cristina; Santana, Josefina C.
Titel	Variables That Influence Language Proficiency in Students from Public and Private High Schools in Mexico
Quelle	In: MEXTESOL Journal, 44 (2020) 2, (12 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2395-9908
Schlagwörter	Language Proficiency; Predictor Variables; High School Students; Private Schools; Public Schools; Foreign Countries; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Multiple Regression Analysis; Reading Habits; Mexico + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Prädiktor; High school; High schools; Student; Students; Oberschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Private school; Privatschule; Public school; Öffentliche Schule; Ausland; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Reading habit; Lesegewohnheit; Mexiko
Abstract	Proficiency in a second language depends on different factors; some of these are individual, while others depend more on the social context where the learning takes place. This article describes a study that examined variables that can lead to proficiency in English as a second language. The study was carried out among first semester university students at four different institutions, three private and one public, in four cities in Mexico. Participants (N=1188) had studied at either public or private high schools, regardless of the type of university where they were enrolled. They responded to a questionnaire about their background in learning English, and they took a computer adaptive placement test to determine their language level. Multiple regression was used to determine which variables can be used to predict scores on the placement test. Results point to reading as the number one predictor of proficiency, regardless of length of instruction, previous language studies, or type of high school, suggesting that public school students can reach on average the same level of proficiency as private school students, if they read. These results suggest that extensive reading may be beneficial in improving language proficiency. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	MEXTESOL Journal. Bernardo Couto 48, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Alcadía Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de Mexico, 06880, Mexico. Tel: +55-55-66-87-49; e-mail: mextesoljournal@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.mextesol.net/journal/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01