Longman Dictionary of

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false beginner
geometry, algebra, arithmetic, reading and writing, we can find out what
underlying factors are common to results on all these tests by using factor
analysis. A factor analysis might show that there are two factors in the
tests, one related to mathematics and the other related to language proficiency.
These factors may be interpreted as abilities or traits that these
tests measure to differing degrees. There are basically two types of factor
analysis: exploratory and confirmatory. Exploratory factor analysis, as its
name indicates, is used to explore a group of observed variables and
identify any underlying variables that might explain the relationships
among the observed variables, whereas confirmatory factor analysis,
again as its name indicates, is used to test or confirm a hypothesized
factor structure of a group of observed variables, specified a priori on the
basis of some underlying theory or previous research, to see if the proposed
factor structure is adequate to explain the relationships among the
observed variables.
false beginner n
(in language teaching) a learner who has had a limited amount of previous
instruction in a language, but who because of extremely limited language
proficiency is classified as at the beginning level of language
instruction. A false beginner is sometimes contrasted with a true beginner,
i.e. someone who has no knowledge of the language.
false cognate n
also faux amis, false friend
a word which has the same or very similar form in two languages, but
which has a different meaning in each. The similarity may cause a second
language learner to use the word wrongly. For example, the French word
expérience means “experiment”, and not “experience”. French learners
of English might thus write or say: Yesterday we performed an interesting
experience in the laboratory.
False cognates may be identified by CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS.
familiarity n
a measure of how frequently a linguistic item is thought to be used, or the
degree to which it is known. This may be measured by asking people to
show on a RATING SCALE whether they think they use a given word or
structure never, sometimes, or often. Word familiarity has been used as a
way of selecting vocabulary for language teaching.
faux amis n
another term for FALSE COGNATE
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