This study investigated how learners' motivation to improve their pronunciation (i.e., pronunciation-focused motivation) influences their L2 pronunciation achievements. This relationship was explored separately in an online (n = 28) and a face-to-face (F2F) (n = 49) learning environment with beginner learners of German. In the online learning…

Oral practice is challenging for foreign language education, and Corrective Feedback (CF) is often used to point out learners' pronunciation errors and to help them improve their oral skills in foreign language courses. CF is generally considered as a necessary condition for foreign language acquisition, and "reflection" and…

Computer-assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT) tools have become increasingly dependent on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology to provide automated corrective pronunciation feedback to learners. The extent to which ASR-based tools measurably improve second language (L2) pronunciation is of great interest to language educators globally,…

Previous research has established that phonetics has been marginalized within language teaching, proving to be particularly challenging for learners in EFL contexts. This paper presents EPSSML (https://www.usc.gal/multimlab/), an e-learning platform designed within Mayer's (2008, 2009) Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning to instruct English…

This study addresses the issue of automatic pronunciation assessment (APA) and its contribution to the teaching of second language (L2) pronunciation. Several attempts have been made at designing such systems, and some have proven operationally successful. However, the automatic assessment of the pronunciation of short words in segmental…

Improving pronunciation in second language (L2) learning requires timely and personalized feedback but educators have limited time to dedicate in the classroom. While there are many educational tools available, educators are still struggling to integrate technology in their practices. To address this challenge, this study explores repurposing a…

The Objective of the study was to ascertain how Rosetta Stone in English class affected students' ability to pronounce English. This methodology employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with 30 samples split into two groups. The technique used was non-probability sampling. Pronunciation test technique was employed for data collecting.…

Computer-assisted pronunciation teaching (CAPT) software has been developed to improve learners' pronunciation. CAPT software helps learners to study independently, selecting what function to use and how often they utilize it. CAPT systems are regarded as a useful tool for pronunciation training for learners, specifically those who feel…

Learning a second language is a challenging endeavour which requires various degrees of support. The proliferation of smart technologies includes chatbots and conversational agents which have the potential to 'assist' language learners (Kukulska-Hulme, 2019). However, whilst a growing number of researchers and developers are working on such…

There has been much debate in assessment research about the inclusion of Global English accents in high-stakes listening tests. This study explored test-takers' attitudes toward the inclusion of different English accents in the Duolingo English Test (DET) 2021 test version and their associations with listening test scores. One hundred sixty…

Speaking in a foreign language is considered challenging to both teach and learn. Virtual humans (VHs), as conversational agents (CAs), provide opportunities to practise speaking skills. Lower secondary school students (N = 25) engaged in an AI-based spoken dialogue system (SDS) and interacted verbally with VHs in simulated everyday-life scenarios…

This study examined the difference in adults' pronunciation performance with peer feedback and individual practice when using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The same ASR software was used in both the comparison (n = 31) and the experimental group (n = 33) for 12 weeks. The participants were working adults in Taiwan. During the…

Mobile-assisted language learning has emerged as a valuable tool for L2 pronunciation learning as it offers ample opportunities for learners to perform authentic learning activities anytime and anywhere. However, the extent to which mobile devices may facilitate or enhance L2 pronunciation has yet to be systematically investigated. To address the…

Vocabulary learning that overlooks the discrimination of single sounds in English language learning could lead to communication difficulties, such as the inability to hear and speak English pronunciation. To address this issue, vocalization strategy, in which students listen to the sounds of words and memorize them aloud, is considered a useful…

An explorative case study has been conducted at a small rural school in the north east of Thailand to investigate the pronunciation errors that primary school students make when reading English aloud. This paper illustrates the opportunities and challenges of employing speech recognition software in rural classrooms by using it with specifically…