چکیده:
This study examined the impact of Clear Pronunciation 2 software on teaching English suprasegmental features, focusing on stress, rhythm and intonation. In particular, the software covers five topics in relation to suprasegmental features including consonant cluster, word stress, connected speech, sentence stress and intonation. Seven Iranian EFL learners participated in this study. The study lasted for six weeks and both the teacher and the software were involved in teaching suprasegmental features. To measure the learners’ pronunciation and their degree of progress for both pre-test and post-test, the software itself was used. The software has the ability to generate report and score on learners’ performance at the end of any activity. So, the analysis of learners’ performance was based on the software reports on their performance. The results of the study showed that the learners had a significant level of progress in all aspects of suprasegmental features. They learned suprasegmental features effectively and the exercises of the software were helpful for them. The results provide empirical evidences on the value of using Clear Pronunciation 2 software for teaching English pronunciation. This software and the methodology used in this study yield promising results for the field of language teaching and can provide inspiring results in future.
خلاصه ماشینی:
com Abstract This study examined the impact of Clear Pronunciation 2 software on teaching English suprasegmental features, focusing on stress, rhythm and intonation.
In addition, AbuSeileek (2007) in a study for teaching stress to advance EFL learners of English by using Mouton Interactive Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology software found that the students’ ability in perceiving and producing correct stress pattern in words, phrases, and sentences improved.
In another study Tanner & Landon (2009) examined the effect of using Cued Pronunciation Readings (CPRs) software on intermediate ESL learners of English in US.
For example Liu (2008) in his study of examining the effect of Pronunciation Power 2, a commercial language learning program, on ESL learners in US found no significant improvement in comparison with traditional instruction of pronunciation.
The features of this software are as follow: Content: It covers five key suprasegmental element of pronunciation: word stress, consonant clusters, sentence stress, connected speech and intonation.
This simultaneous teaching both by teacher and by the software helped learners to learn suprasegmental features more effectively.
The total performance of learner shows that the participants had a significant progress in consonant cluster unit and exercises of the software were helpful and effective for them.
This shows that exercises and activities provided in the Clear Pronunciation 2 software were helpful and effective for learners, and learners had significant and acceptable progress in word stress unit.
This shows that all of them learned suprasegmental features effectively and the software exercises had significant influence on improvement of learner’s English pronunciation.