Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
The correct placement of word-level stress is a main concern in EFL speech intelligibility training. It is particularly important for EFL learners who have a drastically different stress system in their L1 (e.g. Persian). These learners usually misplace the primary stress in their L2 which subseq...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit UKM
2012
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/1/pp%2520521_537.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/ http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppbl/Gema/gemahome.html |
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| Summary: | The correct placement of word-level stress is a main concern in EFL speech intelligibility
training. It is particularly important for EFL learners who have a drastically different
stress system in their L1 (e.g. Persian). These learners usually misplace the primary stress
in their L2 which subsequently may interrupt the flow of communication and leads to
unintelligibility. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of musically-simulated
patterns, as a new teaching technique, on the learning of word stress patterns of English.
Musically-simulated patterns were defined in the context of the study as impressionistic
patterns which were acoustically similar to word stress patterns of English. 30 Iranian
EFL elementary learners at a language institute participated in the study. The new
technique was used to teach four stress patterns of two- and three-syllable English words.
The results of the posttest indicated that the participants in the experimental group (who
listened to musically-simulated patterns) obtained significantly higher scores. Moreover,
two-syllable words appeared to be more positively influenced by these musical patterns.
It is suggested that L1 negative transfer and the inherent cognitive complexity of the
stress patterns may contribute to the varying effect of these musical patterns. Finally, the
possible applications of using this technique at both levels of material development and
classroom practice are discussed. |
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