Table 2 Frequency of Participant Response to BALLI items on Foreign Language Aptitude

1. It is easier for children than adults to learn a foreign language.

74(73%)

20(20%)

5(5%)

2(2%)

1(1%)

1.39

0.760

2. Some people have a special ability for learning foreign languages.

37(36%)

49(48%)

11(11%)

2(2%)

3(4%)

1.87

0.897

6. People from my country are good at learning foreign languages.

12(12%)

44(43%)

32(31%)

12(13%)

2(2%)

2.49

0.919

10. It is easier for someone who already speaks a foreign language to learn another one.

20(20%)

43(42%)

29(28%)

8(9%)

2(2%)

2.31

0.941

11. People who are good at mathematics or science are not good at learning foreign languages.

3(3%)

9(9%)

24(24%)

35(34%)

31(30%)

3.80

1.063

16. I have a special ability for learning foreign languages.

7(7%)

30(29%)

44(43%)

18(18%)

3(3%)

2.80

0.912

19. Women are better than men at learning languages.

8(8%)

14(14%)

46(45%)

18(18%)

16(16%)

3.20

1.108

30. People who speak more than one language are very intelligent.

24(24%)

32(31%)

28(28%)

15(15%)

3(3%)

2.42

1.094

33. Everyone can learn to speak a foreign language

30(29%)

42(41%)

19(19%)

9(9%)

2(2%)

2.13

1.002