Presentation

ESL Learners’ Attitudes toward Pronunciation Instruction and Varieties of English

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Abstract

There is an increasing need for a comprehensive understanding of accent on the part of both instructors and learners. However, researchers in Applied Linguistics have paid little attention to learners_ perceptions of pronunciation instruction in L2 contexts. The current study identified adult ESL learners_ perspectives of pronunciation studies in the inner circle countries. It reported on students_ expectations of their pronunciation lessons and their attitudes toward instructors_ accent varieties in the environment of speaking English in New Zealand (NZ) and North America (US). Two hundred thirty eight ESL students participated in interviews and questionnaire surveys. The results of the investigation showed that students in NZ, compared to those in the US, were more dissatisfied with their current curriculum of learning pronunciation due to misunderstanding of various models and accents of pronunciation made available to them. These results suggest that students_ perceived needs should be better synchronized in ESL contexts. The implications of this study regarding the relations among pronunciation training, learner perceptions, and accent variety extend beyond the immediate setting in NZ and US higher education, and in fact pertain to the teaching of World Englishes in every nation.

How to Cite:

Kang, O., (2009) “ESL Learners’ Attitudes toward Pronunciation Instruction and Varieties of English”, Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Proceedings 1(1).