ERIC Number: EJ1161178
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1481-868X
EISSN: N/A
Development of Second Language French Oral Skills in an Instructed Setting: A Focus on Speech Ratings
Trofimovich, Pavel; Kennedy, Sara; Blanchet, Josée
Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics / Revue canadienne de linguistique appliquée, v20 n2 p32-50 2017
This study examined the relationship between targeted pronunciation instruction in French as a second language (L2) and listener-based ratings of accent, comprehensibility, and fluency. The ratings by 20 French listeners evaluating the speech of 30 adult L2 French learners enrolled in a 15-week listening and speaking course targeting segments, prosody, fluency, and connected speech processes (e.g., liaison, enchainment) were compared before and after instruction in read-aloud and extemporaneous (picture description) speaking tasks. Results showed that the learners improved in all speech ratings, especially in extemporaneous speaking. Results also revealed that accent ratings were linked to prosody (intonation accuracy, pitch range), while fluency and comprehensibility ratings were additionally linked to fluency phenomena (length of fluent run, hesitation rate). These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for L2 pronunciation learning and links between instruction, listener-rated dimensions of speech, and performance in different tasks.
Descriptors: French, Second Language Instruction, Language Skills, Pronunciation, Listening, Language Fluency, Language Proficiency, Adults, Suprasegmentals, Comparative Analysis, Oral Reading, Pictorial Stimuli, Speech Communication, Foreign Countries, Pretests Posttests, Audio Equipment, Coding, Statistical Analysis
Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics / Association Canadienne de Linguistique Appliquée. Departement de langues, linguistique et traduction, Pavillon de Koninck, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada. Web site: http://www.aclacaal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada (Montreal)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A