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The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation

This research looked at the use of a scaffolding-based software in helping learners to develop pronunciation and fluency modelled on standard American English. The study used Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) theory and Scaffolding Learning. Principles as a basis for observing how learn...

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Main Author: Farzanfar, Anahita
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
English language - Pronunciation
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/1/FBMK_2008_6%20IR.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/
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spelling my.upm.eprints.47632021-12-22T07:23:39Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/ The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation Farzanfar, Anahita This research looked at the use of a scaffolding-based software in helping learners to develop pronunciation and fluency modelled on standard American English. The study used Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) theory and Scaffolding Learning. Principles as a basis for observing how learners of English progressed through the learning process. Firstly, the research examined an accent-reduction software to find out how the software design supports scaffolding principles. To determine the effectiveness of the software on learners’ general pronunciation, pre-test and post-test were used. The data obtained from the pre-test and the post-test showed a significant improvement in learners’ general pronunciation after using the pronunciation learning software.Secondly, case studies were conducted to investigate Persian ESL learners’ progress in pronouncing English consonants that are absent from the phonemic inventory of Persian. The selected cases were recorded during class time, while they were working with the software. The obtained recordings were then analysed using PRAAT, a speech analysis programme. Later, two raters helped the researcher to determine the quality of the sounds produced by the learners. The results from the case study showed that with the appropriate scaffolds provided by the software, in the form of explicit instruction, native models and multimodal feedback, the learners were found to have the microgenesis improvements towards the native model and progressed within the ZPD to pronounce the consonants that were absent from the inventory system of their first language. Finally, learners’ perceptions of the software were asked in an interview session after the instructional programme. Based on their responses to the interview questions, it was found that the learners positively perceived the use of the scaffolding-based accent reduction software to improve their general pronunciation. 2008-01 Thesis NonPeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/1/FBMK_2008_6%20IR.pdf Farzanfar, Anahita (2008) The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation. Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia. English language - Pronunciation
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
topic English language - Pronunciation
spellingShingle English language - Pronunciation
Farzanfar, Anahita
The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
description This research looked at the use of a scaffolding-based software in helping learners to develop pronunciation and fluency modelled on standard American English. The study used Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) theory and Scaffolding Learning. Principles as a basis for observing how learners of English progressed through the learning process. Firstly, the research examined an accent-reduction software to find out how the software design supports scaffolding principles. To determine the effectiveness of the software on learners’ general pronunciation, pre-test and post-test were used. The data obtained from the pre-test and the post-test showed a significant improvement in learners’ general pronunciation after using the pronunciation learning software.Secondly, case studies were conducted to investigate Persian ESL learners’ progress in pronouncing English consonants that are absent from the phonemic inventory of Persian. The selected cases were recorded during class time, while they were working with the software. The obtained recordings were then analysed using PRAAT, a speech analysis programme. Later, two raters helped the researcher to determine the quality of the sounds produced by the learners. The results from the case study showed that with the appropriate scaffolds provided by the software, in the form of explicit instruction, native models and multimodal feedback, the learners were found to have the microgenesis improvements towards the native model and progressed within the ZPD to pronounce the consonants that were absent from the inventory system of their first language. Finally, learners’ perceptions of the software were asked in an interview session after the instructional programme. Based on their responses to the interview questions, it was found that the learners positively perceived the use of the scaffolding-based accent reduction software to improve their general pronunciation.
format Thesis
author Farzanfar, Anahita
author_facet Farzanfar, Anahita
author_sort Farzanfar, Anahita
title The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
title_short The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
title_full The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
title_fullStr The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
title_full_unstemmed The use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
title_sort use of scaffolding-based software in developing pronunciation
publishDate 2008
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/1/FBMK_2008_6%20IR.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4763/
_version_ 1720438443425660928
score 13.211869

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