Abstract

Background. Confi dent language profi ciency in Russian language is the key to successful schooling. However, teachers note a general decline in Russian language performance among students. One of the most critical factors opposing this trend may be the development of regulatory competencies, particularly conscious self-regulation in achieving goals and in executive functions.

Objective. Th e aim is to reveal the role conscious self-regulation plays in the system of predictors of successful mastering Russian language by secondary school students, diff ering in gender and age.

Design. Sample included students of schools in Moscow and Moscow region aged 13–15 years (N = 286): seventh graders (N = 147) and ninth graders (N = 139). Methods applied in the study included V.I. Morosanova’s questionnaire “Th e style of self-regulation of learning activity (SRPLAQ-M 52)”; Eriksen’s task to assess the suppression of irrelevant stimuli, the letter-digit task to assess attention switching, the N-Back task to assess the renewal of working memory. We used two tasks developed by E.D. Bozhovich to diagnose language competencies. Questionnaires were fi lled out in group format in the classroom under the experimenter’s supervision; computer testing was held in a computer classroom on another day.

Results. Th e results of the study showed that self-regulation and intelligence are universal resources for achieving educational goals. High academic performance amongboys mostly depends on the development of conscious self-regulation and the ability to manage their attention. Planning educational goals, the general level of self-regulation, and the accuracy of updating working memory are signifi cant for girls’ academic performance. By the time students start high school, the system of predictors for academic performance in Russian is undergoing qualitative changes. Th e system is “curtailed”, with only those elements that ensure success in passing state exams remaining relevant.

Conclusion. Th e study revealed the invariant structure of the relationships between the predictors of success in Russian language. Th is structure is implemented as a model, constructed around the relationship of conscious self-regulation and its primary neurocognitive basis represented by executive functions. Th is complex regulatory component is a crucial predictor of success in Russian in adolescence. Th e annual assessment is determined primarily by self-regulation, while executive functions mainly contribute to the development of language competencies.