Perceptual Training: A Literature Review

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the perceptual training literature and presents the goals of the current research. We begin with describing in detail the methodology of perceptual training and its basic design and review several studies that apply this technique to improve learners’ perception of L2 segmental and, particularly, suprasegmental contrasts. As studies differ from one another in methodological aspects such as the task used to assess participants’ performance and the variability of the stimuli, some factors that can possibly impact the outcomes and efficacy of a training intervention are identified and discussed. Next, we summarize the findings from previous research on lexical stress perception and then touch on the issue of central interest in this book—the difficulty with perceiving English word stress patterns in rising intonation on the part of Mandarin-speaking learners of English as a foreign language. Finally, we outline a perceptual training program that aimed to help the learners overcome the difficulty and explain the rationale for its design.