Phonetic Training for Second Language Learning
28 July 2014
Is it possible for an adult to learn a new language? Recent research suggests that it is, and that approaching native pronunciation may be possible. Some studies have suggested that adults can change their pronunciation with very rapid training, even less than one hour!
It is especially interesting that adults appear to be able to perform this task, as they are considered to be beyond the critical stages of language development. Anyone who has attempted to learn a language as an adult knows that it is far more difficult than it appears to be for children, and that adults learners rarely achieve native-speaker fluency in another language. But recent studies have suggested that it is possible to train even adults speakers to improve their perception and production in another dialect or language, although the link between perception and production remains mostly opaque.
Our study aims to investigate that link, as well as the degree to which production training in another language can help adult learners to improve pronunciation. We will ask you to fill out a short questionnaire about your language background and education, and then you will complete a pretest, two short trainings, and a post-test.
No one who has lived in a French-speaking country may participate! Please send a valid email address.
