The effects of distributed practice on second language fluency development

• Published in: Studies in second language acquisition Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 770 - 794
• Main Authors: Kakitani, Joe, Kormos, Judit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Cognitive psychology; Educational psychology; English as a second language learning; Fluency; Grammar; Information Processing; Japanese language; Knowledge; Language acquisition; Language Fluency; Learning outcomes; Learning Strategies; Linguistics; Literature Reviews; Repetition; Retention (Psychology); Second language learning; Skill Development; Speech; Syntax; Time; Vocabulary Skills
• ISSN: 0272-2631; 1470-1545
• DOI: 10.1017/S0272263124000251

This study examined the effects of distributed practice on second language (L2) speech fluency development. A total of 116 Japanese L2 learners of English were randomly divided into experimental or control conditions. Learners assigned to the experimental groups engaged in four fluency training sessions either in a short-spaced (1-day interval) or long-spaced (7-day interval) condition. Although different learning trajectories were observed during the training phase, the posttests conducted 7 and 28 days after the training showed similar fluency gains for the two groups, indicating that short- and long-spaced conditions were equally effective for developing L2 fluency. The current study extends the line of research in distributed practice and task repetition for L2 fluency development.