Presentation

In Other People’s Words: Language Learners’ Imitation of Professional Speech

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Abstract

This paper explores international graduate student language learners’ (LLs) (N=17) enjoyment and perceptions of improvement when using voiceovers of TED Talks as a pronunciation-improvement tool in an academic communications course through a survey (see Appendix A). One major finding is that the majority of the LLs contrasted themselves to native speakers and make statements of dissatisfaction with their oral proficiency or pronunciation even though the majority of LLs enjoyed the activity and felt they had improved their pronunciation. A discussion of how these findings of dissatisfaction fit into LLs “noticing the gap” (Schmidt, 1990) or raising awareness of their pronunciation needs follows. Implications for LLs’ identities are also explored.

How to Cite:

Crabtree, J., (2015) “In Other People’s Words: Language Learners’ Imitation of Professional Speech”, Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Proceedings 7(1).