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Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation

Year 2014, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 99 - 110, 31.12.2014

Abstract

Pronunciation is one of the controversial topics in the field of English language teaching as a second or foreign language. The aim of this study is to understand the attitudes of prep class students at Kastamonu University (state university) in Turkey towards the importance of pronunciation in language learning. Therefore, a pronunciation attitude inventory (PAI) was implemented in order to achieve this goal. 58 students who were from different majors such as business management, forest engineering, tourism and hotel management, etc. attended the research at total, and they were asked to give their opinions about 12 statements by using five-point Likert scale aiming at eliciting the attitudes of the participants from the strongest (always or almost always true of me) to the weakest (never or almost never true of me). The descriptive results of the answers were analyzed by using SPSS 16 program. The responses given to the items in the questionnaire that intended to figure out the attitudes of the participants towards correct pronunciation in learning foreign language prove that pronunciation conveys a significant role in the target language learning, and it needs to be specifically handled by the instructors throughout the teaching process.

References

  • Asher, J., & Garcia, R. (1969). The optimal age to learn a foreign language. Modern Language Journal, 53, 334-341.
  • Brown, H. D. (2006). Principles of language learning and teaching. (5th ed.). London: Pearson Longman.
  • Brown, H. D. (2000). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.
  • Burgess, J., & Spencer, S. (2000). Phonology and pronunciation in integrated language teaching and teacher education. System, 28, 191–215.
  • Cagıltay, K., Saran, M., & Seferoglu, G. (2009). Mobile assisted language learning: English pronunciation at learners' fingertips. Eurasian Journal of Educational 114. Research, 34, 97
  • Çakır, İ. (2012). Promoting correct pronunciation through supported audio materials for EFL learners. Energy Education Science and Technology. Part B: Social and Educational Studies. 4(3). 1801- 1812.
  • Celik, M. (2008). A description of Turkish-English phonology for teaching English in Turkey. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 4(1), 159-174.
  • Corder, S. P. (1992). A role for the mother tongue. In L. Selinker & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Language transfer in language learning (Revised ed., pp. 18-31). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
  • Demirezen, M. (2010). The causes of the schwa phoneme as a fossilized pronunciation problem for Turks. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 1567-1571. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.237
  • Deng, J., Holtby, A., Howden-Weaver, L., Nessim, L., Nicholas, B., Nickle, K., & Sun, M. (2009). English pronunciation research: The neglected orphan of second language acquisition studies. Prairie Metropolis Centre Working Paper Series, WP05-09, Edmonton, AB.
  • Dornyei, Z. (1998). Motivation in second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117- 135. doi: 10.1017/S026144480001315X
  • Elliott, A. R. (1995). Field independence / dependence, hemispheric specialization, and attitude in relation to pronunciation accuracy in Spanish as a foreign language. The Modern Language Journal, 79(3), 356-371.
  • Elliott, A. R. (1995). Foreign language phonology: Field independence, attitude, and the success of formal instruction in Spanish pronunciation. The Modern Language Journal, 79(4), 530-542.
  • Foote, J. A., Holtby, A. K., & Derwing, T. M. (2011). Survey of the teaching of pronunciation in adult ESL programs in Canada. TESL Canada Journal, 29(1), 1-22.
  • Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course. (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
  • Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2012). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343. doi: 10.1177/0267658312461497
  • Hismanoglu, M. (2012). Teaching word stress to Turkish EFL (English as a foreign language) learners through internet-based video lessons. US-China Education Review, 1, 26-40. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED530678.pdf
  • Hismanoglu, M. (2009). The pronunciation of the inter-dental sounds of English: an articulation problem for Turkish learners of English and solutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1697-1703. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.301
  • Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. New York: Pergamon.
  • Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley.
  • Liu, Q. (2011). Factors influencing pronunciation accuracy: L1 negative transfer, task variables and individual aptitude. English Language Teaching, 4 (4), 115-120. doi: 10.5539/elt.v4n4p115
  • Morley, J. (1991). The pronunciation component in teaching English to speakers of other languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25 (3), 481-520. doi: 10.2307/3586981
  • Nakazawa, K. (2012). The effectiveness of focused attention on pronunciation and intonation training in tertiary Japanese language education on learners' confidence. International Journal of Learning, 18 (4), 181-192. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/195126
  • Nunan, D. (1998). Second Language Teaching and Learning. Boston, MA: Heinle ELT.
  • Otlowski, M. (1998). Pronunciation: What are the expectations? The Internet TESL Journal, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Otlowski-Pronunciation.html
  • Piske, T., MacKay, I. R. A., & Flege, J. E. (2001). Factors a4ecting degree of foreign accent in an l2: a review. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 191-215. doi: 10.006/jpho.2001.0134
  • Suter, R. W. (1976). Predictors of pronunciation accuracy in second language learning. Language Learning, 26, 233-253.

İsmail Çakır a *, Birtan Baytar b

Year 2014, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 99 - 110, 31.12.2014

Abstract

References

  • Asher, J., & Garcia, R. (1969). The optimal age to learn a foreign language. Modern Language Journal, 53, 334-341.
  • Brown, H. D. (2006). Principles of language learning and teaching. (5th ed.). London: Pearson Longman.
  • Brown, H. D. (2000). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.
  • Burgess, J., & Spencer, S. (2000). Phonology and pronunciation in integrated language teaching and teacher education. System, 28, 191–215.
  • Cagıltay, K., Saran, M., & Seferoglu, G. (2009). Mobile assisted language learning: English pronunciation at learners' fingertips. Eurasian Journal of Educational 114. Research, 34, 97
  • Çakır, İ. (2012). Promoting correct pronunciation through supported audio materials for EFL learners. Energy Education Science and Technology. Part B: Social and Educational Studies. 4(3). 1801- 1812.
  • Celik, M. (2008). A description of Turkish-English phonology for teaching English in Turkey. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 4(1), 159-174.
  • Corder, S. P. (1992). A role for the mother tongue. In L. Selinker & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Language transfer in language learning (Revised ed., pp. 18-31). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
  • Demirezen, M. (2010). The causes of the schwa phoneme as a fossilized pronunciation problem for Turks. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 1567-1571. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.237
  • Deng, J., Holtby, A., Howden-Weaver, L., Nessim, L., Nicholas, B., Nickle, K., & Sun, M. (2009). English pronunciation research: The neglected orphan of second language acquisition studies. Prairie Metropolis Centre Working Paper Series, WP05-09, Edmonton, AB.
  • Dornyei, Z. (1998). Motivation in second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117- 135. doi: 10.1017/S026144480001315X
  • Elliott, A. R. (1995). Field independence / dependence, hemispheric specialization, and attitude in relation to pronunciation accuracy in Spanish as a foreign language. The Modern Language Journal, 79(3), 356-371.
  • Elliott, A. R. (1995). Foreign language phonology: Field independence, attitude, and the success of formal instruction in Spanish pronunciation. The Modern Language Journal, 79(4), 530-542.
  • Foote, J. A., Holtby, A. K., & Derwing, T. M. (2011). Survey of the teaching of pronunciation in adult ESL programs in Canada. TESL Canada Journal, 29(1), 1-22.
  • Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course. (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
  • Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2012). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343. doi: 10.1177/0267658312461497
  • Hismanoglu, M. (2012). Teaching word stress to Turkish EFL (English as a foreign language) learners through internet-based video lessons. US-China Education Review, 1, 26-40. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED530678.pdf
  • Hismanoglu, M. (2009). The pronunciation of the inter-dental sounds of English: an articulation problem for Turkish learners of English and solutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1697-1703. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.301
  • Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. New York: Pergamon.
  • Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley.
  • Liu, Q. (2011). Factors influencing pronunciation accuracy: L1 negative transfer, task variables and individual aptitude. English Language Teaching, 4 (4), 115-120. doi: 10.5539/elt.v4n4p115
  • Morley, J. (1991). The pronunciation component in teaching English to speakers of other languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25 (3), 481-520. doi: 10.2307/3586981
  • Nakazawa, K. (2012). The effectiveness of focused attention on pronunciation and intonation training in tertiary Japanese language education on learners' confidence. International Journal of Learning, 18 (4), 181-192. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/195126
  • Nunan, D. (1998). Second Language Teaching and Learning. Boston, MA: Heinle ELT.
  • Otlowski, M. (1998). Pronunciation: What are the expectations? The Internet TESL Journal, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Otlowski-Pronunciation.html
  • Piske, T., MacKay, I. R. A., & Flege, J. E. (2001). Factors a4ecting degree of foreign accent in an l2: a review. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 191-215. doi: 10.006/jpho.2001.0134
  • Suter, R. W. (1976). Predictors of pronunciation accuracy in second language learning. Language Learning, 26, 233-253.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

İsmail Çakır

Birtan Baytar This is me

Publication Date December 31, 2014
Published in Issue Year 2014 Volume: 10 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Çakır, İ., & Baytar, B. (2014). Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 10(1), 99-110.
AMA Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. April 2014;10(1):99-110.
Chicago Çakır, İsmail, and Birtan Baytar. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10, no. 1 (April 2014): 99-110.
EndNote Çakır İ, Baytar B (April 1, 2014) Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10 1 99–110.
IEEE İ. Çakır and B. Baytar, “Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation”, Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 99–110, 2014.
ISNAD Çakır, İsmail - Baytar, Birtan. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10/1 (April 2014), 99-110.
JAMA Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. 2014;10:99–110.
MLA Çakır, İsmail and Birtan Baytar. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, vol. 10, no. 1, 2014, pp. 99-110.
Vancouver Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. 2014;10(1):99-110.