Differences In Native Language Skills Between Moreand Less-Proficient Foreign Language Learners

This paper describes a study of native language (Dutch) word identification skills conducted in two groups of high school foreign language learners. The study focused on the differences between the groups with two main aims. The first was to examine the Linguistic Coding Difficulties Hypothesis (LCDH), a prevailing theory of individual learner differences allocating weaker foreign language achievement to weaker native language skills. The second aim was to determine the nature of these differences and inspect the claims that native language word identification skills differentiate weak and normal foreign language learners. This was done by investigating the effect of context on weak FL learners, who over-rely on context in compensation for weaker phonological and orthographical skills, according to the LCDH. In pursuing its aims, the study became involved in an ongoing debate surrounding the issue of native language reading.