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. 2018 Feb;38(1):51-55.
doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1103.

Correlation between musical aptitude and learning foreign languages: an epidemiological study in secondary school Italian students

P M Picciotti  1 , F Bussu  2 , L Calò  1 , R Gallus  1 , E Scarano  1 , G DI Cintio  1 , F Cassarà  1 , L D'Alatri  1
Affiliations

Correlation between musical aptitude and learning foreign languages: an epidemiological study in secondary school Italian students

P M Picciotti et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018 Feb.

Abstract
in English, Italian

The aim of this study was to assess if a correlation exists between language learning skills and musical aptitude through the analysis of scholarly outcomes concerning the study of foreign languages and music. We enrolled 502 students from a secondary Italian school (10-14 years old), attending both traditional courses (2 hours/week of music classes scheduled) and special courses (six hours). For statistical analysis, we considered grades in English, French and Music. Our results showed a significant correlation between grades in the two foreign languages and in music, both in the traditional courses and in special courses, and better results in French than for special courses. These results are discussed and interpreted through the literature about neuroanatomical and physiological mechanisms of foreign language learning and music perception.

Correlazione fra attitudine musicale e apprendimento delle lingue straniere: studio epidemiologico su studenti italiani della scuola media secondaria di primo grado.

Riassunto: Scopo di questo studio è stato lo studio della relazione fra l’apprendimento delle lingue e le abilità musicali attraverso l’analisi dei risultati scolastici ottenuti da studenti della scuola secondaria nelle materie linguistiche e nello studio della musica. Sono stati inclusi nello studio 502 alunni (età 10-14 anni) di una scuola media secondaria di primo grado, divisi in classi tradizionali (2 ore settimanali di insegnamento della disciplina musicale) e classi “speciali musicali” (6 ore settimanali di insegnamento musicale). Sono stati considerati per l’analisi statistica i voti riportati nelle tre discipline: Inglese, Francese ed Educazione Musicale. I nostri risultati mostrano una correlazione statisticamente significativa fra i voti riportati nelle due lingue straniere e nella disciplina musicale sia nelle classi tradizionali che nelle classi speciali. Inoltre, nel confronto fra classi speciali “musicali” e classi tradizionali l’analisi statistica ha evidenziato una differenza statisticamente significativa per la lingua francese. I risultati vengono discussi ed interpretati sulla base della letteratura riguardante i meccanismi neuroanatomici e fisiologici che sottostanno all’apprendimento delle lingue straniere e della percezione musicale.

Keywords: English; Foreign aptitude; French; Musical aptitude.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Bivariate Fit of Music (Y) by English (X) shows a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.0001).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Bivariate Fit of Music (Y) by French (X) ) shows a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.0001).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Comparison of the French marks demonstrates significantly better results in special courses than in traditional courses (p = 0.0003).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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