Language Learning and Testing Foundation

PART 4 – NUMBER LEARNING

Part 4 of the MLAT-E has 25 possible points. This part of the MLAT-E tests auditory and memory abilities associated with sound-meaning relationships. In this part of the MLAT-E, the pupil will learn the names of numbers in a new language. Subsequently, he or she will hear the names of numbers spoken aloud, and will be asked to write down these numbers. For example, if you heard someone say the number “seventeen” in English, you would write down 1 7. But in this test, the pupil will hear the numbers in a new language. Here is how it will work:

The pupil will hear some instructions read aloud. The speaker will then teach him or her some numbers. The speaker will say something like:

[The red text represents the voice heard by the pupil.]

Now I will teach you some numbers in the new language. First, we will learn some single-digit numbers:

“ba” is “one”

“baba” is “two”

“dee” is “three”

Now I will say the name of the number in the new language, and you write down the number you hear. Try to do so before I tell you the answer:

“ba”                 That was “one”

“dee”               That was “three”

“baba”             That was “two”

Now we will learn some two-digit numbers:

“tu” is “twenty”

“ti” is “thirty”

“tu-ba” is “twenty-one” in this language — because “tu” is “twenty” and “ba” is “one”.

“ti-ba” is “thirty-one” because “ti” is “thirty” and “ba” is one.

Now let’s begin.  Write down the number you hear.

a. ti-ba            [you have only about 5 seconds to write down your answer]

b. ti-dee

c. baba

d. tu-dee

PART 4 – NUMBER LEARNING