Advanced Cantonese ESL learners' production of English speech sounds: Problems and strategies

• Published in: System (Linköping) Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 316 - 328
• Main Author: Chan, Alice Y.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cantonese ESL learners; College Students; Educational Strategies; English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; Hong Kong; Problems; Problems and strategies; Pronunciation; Pronunciation Instruction; Second Language Acquisition; Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Speech production; Hong Kong; Speech production; Problems and strategies; Cantonese ESL learners; Second Language Acquisition
• ISSN: 0346-251X; 1879-3282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.system.2009.11.008

This article discusses the production of English speech sounds by advanced Cantonese ESL learners in Hong Kong. A total of forty university students participated in the study, which included three speech production tasks investigating participants' production of target English speech sounds in isolated words, minimal pairs and passages. The results of the study give confirmatory empirical evidence supporting previous literature on the pronunciation difficulties encountered by Hong Kong Cantonese ESL learners as well as the strategies they often use to overcome their pronunciation difficulties. It is suggested that speech training be included as an integral part of ESL curriculums for students of all levels, but for advanced learners of English, such programmes should be research-driven and prioritized.