Language learning aptitude diagnostics for classroom practice

The ability to learn a new language varies greatly between individuals. While some people learn a new language quickly and effortlessly, others have difficulty mastering it. These differences are often attributed to a person's specific aptitude. In a scientific context, this ability is referred to as Language Learning Aptitude (LLA). In German-speaking countries, however, LLA has not yet played a role in school education, although it is an important predictor of success in foreign language learning. To date, there are no easily accessible and reliable diagnostic instruments to measure the LLA of children in German-speaking schools.The aim of this article is to present a new diagnostic tool called GLLAD (German Language Learning Aptitude Diagnostics), which has been developed specifically for use in German-speaking schools to help teachers create individual language learning profiles and adapt their teaching methods accordingly.