How are attentional control and serial order STM related to English expert word learning by native Cantonese speakers?

Abstract

Recent studies study have reported contradictory results on the role of serial order STM in Cantonese-speaking students learning English vocabulary as a second language in their area of expertise (henceforth, L2 expert word learning). This study aims to further examine the role of serial order STM in L2 expert word learning among Cantonese-English bilinguals. Another goal is to examine the role of attentional control in L2 vocabulary learning. Twenty-three university students were tested on tasks assessing English expert word learning, serial order STM, verbal and nonverbal attentional control, and other cognitive measures including nonverbal fluid intelligence. Expert word learning was measured longitudinally across two phases. The results showed that (1) serial order STM did not correlate significantly with expert word learning, (2) a measure of verbal attentional control but not a nonverbal measure significantly correlated with expert word learning, and (3) there was a strong relationship between fluid intelligence and expert word learning. The significant relationship between L2 expert word learning and verbal control, but not with nonverbal control, suggest that the control mechanism involved in L2 vocabulary learning may be domain specific.