Improving students' pronunciation through accent reduction software

This study aimed to find out whether integrating accent reduction software in advanced English language classes at the university level would result in improvements in students’ pronunciation at the segmental and sup‐rasegmental levels. The study made use of a quasi‐experimental research design. Two...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBritish journal of educational technology Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 303 - 316
Main Author Seferolu, Glge
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2005
Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell
Subjects
College students
Computer Assisted Language Learning
Computer Software
Control Groups
Conventional Instruction
Curriculum subjects: programmes and methods
Educational sciences
Educational software
Educational Technology
English (Second Language)
English as a Second Language Instruction
English language
Experimental Groups
Foreign Accent
Foreign Countries
Foreign language learning
Higher Education
Language Laboratories
Linguistic Input
Modern language
Multimedia
Pronunciation
Research Design
Suprasegmentals
Teaching methods
Turkey
Turkey
Language Teaching
Pronunciation
Educational Technology
Accent
Software
Student
Language Laboratory
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Summary:This study aimed to find out whether integrating accent reduction software in advanced English language classes at the university level would result in improvements in students’ pronunciation at the segmental and sup‐rasegmental levels. The study made use of a quasi‐experimental research design. Two classes at the Department of Foreign Language Education at Middle East Technical University in Turkey participated in the study. Whilst one class (the control group) followed traditional instruction, the other class (experimental group) followed instruction which integrated use of accent reduction software in a multimedia language laboratory. Based on the results of the study, it is suggested that especially in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) settings where natural target language input is scarce, technology has a lot to offer, and EFL learners may be provided with exposure and practice/interaction opportunities in the target language through specifically designed software programs.
Bibliography:istex:CDDEBBB00E7B25DB810FAA245359C96B84E420C5
ArticleID:BJET459
ark:/67375/WNG-MDX4S6XT-M
Gölge Seferoğlu is a teacher educator in the Department of Foreign Language Education, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. She has a doctorate in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College,Columbia University. Her research interests include using technology in language teaching, preservice teacher education, and pronunciation teaching.
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ISSN:0007-1013
1467-8535
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00459.x