Exploring optimal pronunciation teaching: Integrating instructional software into intermediate-level EFL classes in China

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of teaching pronunciation with instructional software to a cohort of Chinese learners of English aged 13 to 16 at lower-intermediate level. It also explores the relationship between learners’ attitudes towards pronunciation and their pronunciation learning. Participants were 60 students at a language school in China: 20 were instructed by a teacher, 20 used instructional software (New Oriental Pronunciation) alone, and the remaining 20 received combined instruction from teacher and software. Participants’ pronunciation was evaluated in pretests and posttests. Presurveys and postsurveys assessed attitudes towards pronunciation. Additionally, a questionnaire collected students’ reflections on the software, and observations were made during instruction. The greatest increase in performance was achieved by students receiving combined instruction, who also exhibited the greatest (positive) changes towards pronunciation. The authors suggest that this combination of human- and computer-assisted instruction particularly suits young learners. Recommendations are made for software design, teacher training, and research into computer-assisted pronunciation learning.