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Article
Modeling Classroom Language Learners' Comprehensibility and Accentedness Over Time: The Case of L2 Spanish
World Languages and Cultures Conference Papers, Posters and Proceedings
  • Charles Nagle, Iowa State University
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Conference
Proceedings of the 9th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching conference
Publication Version
Published Version
Link to Published Version
https://apling.engl.iastate.edu/alt-content/uploads/2018/09/PSLLT-Proceedings-9_9-14-18_2.pdf
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Conference Title
Proceedings of the 9th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching conference
Conference Date
September 1-2, 2017
Geolocation
(40.7607793, -111.89104739999999)
Abstract

Significant scholarship has focused on the development of L2 oral skills in naturalistic language learning. However, few studies have examined how instructed learners’ pronunciation develops over time, despite the importance of the classroom context. This study addressed this gap by investigating L2 Spanish learners’ comprehensibility and accentedness over a yearlong period. Twenty-six learners completed a sentence-building task on five occasions distributed throughout their second, third, and fourth semesters of college-level Spanish language instruction. Learners received 20 sets of images, combining the images in each set to form a simple sentence in Spanish. Eighteen native Spanish listeners rated learners’ recordings for comprehensibility and accentedness using 9-point Likert scales, and mixed-effects models were fit to the ratings data using R. Learners were rated as quite comprehensible despite the presence of a moderate to strong foreign accent. Although both comprehensibility and accentedness improved over time, rates of change varied. Comprehensibility improved quickly but was subject to greater deceleration in rate of change over time. In contrast, accentedness improved steadily and did not exhibit the same degree of flattening as comprehensibility. These results intersect with work on naturalistic learners and suggest that pronunciation development may be characterized by phases of change.

Comments

This presentation is from Proceedings of the 9th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching conference, Sept 1-2, 2017. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
The Author(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Charles Nagle. "Modeling Classroom Language Learners' Comprehensibility and Accentedness Over Time: The Case of L2 Spanish" Salt Lake City, UtahVol. 9 (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/charles-nagle/8/