Leung, Ming Ming Grace. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-277). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Tsoi Chun Ho. / Thesis submitted in: June 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-136). / Abstracts and questionnaires in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ABSTRACT (in Chinese) --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Background of the Present Study --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Hong Kong --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The Place of Phonics in Hong Kong English Language Curriculum --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- A Response: The Present Study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the Study --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Organisation of this Thesis --- p.6 / Chapter 2 --- REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Phonics Instruction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- What is Phonics? --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- The Role of Phonics Instruction in the EFL context --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Phonics Instruction in Hong Kong Schools --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Ways of Teaching Phonics in L1 and L2 Environments --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Task-based Language Teaching and Learning --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Task and Task Types --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Task Types --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Tasks and Comprehensible Input --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- TBL and Interactionist Perspective in SLA --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- "Tasks, Memory and Accuracy" --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- TBL and Affective Factors --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- TBL and Context --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Task-based Language Teaching and Learning in the EFL context --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Task-based Learning (TBL) in Hong Kong EFL Curriculum --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Problems of Implementing the Task-based Syllabus in Hong Kong --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Learning Attitudes and its Measurement --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The Importance of Attitudes towards Language Learning --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Measuring Attitudes --- p.46 / Chapter 2.4 --- Task-supported Phonics Instruction --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Learning Phonics through Tasks --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Traditional versus Task-supported Phonics Instruction for EFL Learners --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Constructing Short Tasks in an HKEFL Lesson --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Techniques of using task-supported Phonics with Older Learners --- p.54 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Reasons and Limitations of Teaching and Learning Phonics in a Task-supported Way --- p.55 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- A Framework of TSP for EFL Learners --- p.56 / Chapter 2.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.58 / Chapter 3 --- DESIGN OF THE STUDY --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Questions and Null Hypotheses --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3 --- Overall Design of the Present Study --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Settings --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- The Original Setting and the Target Participants --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The New Setting and the Period of Study --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- The Participants --- p.65 / Chapter 3.5 --- The Instrument I: Questionnaire --- p.65 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Attitudinal Battery on Phonics Learning --- p.65 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Attitudinal Battery on Task-supported Learning --- p.68 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Adding Items in the Post-test of the Experimental Group --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6 --- The Instrument II: Reading Aloud Test --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Selection of the Texts --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- A Brief Analysis of the Texts --- p.70 / Chapter 3.7 --- Pilot Studies --- p.72 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Pilot Study for the Pre-test Questionnaire --- p.72 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Pilot Study for the Post-test Questionnaire (TSL version) --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8 --- Data Collection: Description --- p.75 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Pre-test sessions --- p.75 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Post-test sessions --- p.76 / Chapter 3.9 --- The Teaching and Learning of the Phonics Classes --- p.77 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Maintaining the Internal Validity --- p.77 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Topic Coverage and the Design of the Course --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Designing the Tasks and the Exercises --- p.80 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Students' Attendance --- p.82 / Chapter 3.10 --- Methods of Data Analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 3.11 --- Chapter Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 4 --- DATA ANALYSIS --- p.87 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2 --- Criteria for Excluding Data from my Analysis --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results from the Reading Aloud Tests --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Accuracy of the Onsets --- p.91 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Accuracy of the Vowels --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Accuracy of the Final Consonants --- p.93 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Number of Syllables --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Omissions --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Summary of the Reading Aloud Results --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4 --- Quantitative Results from the Questionnaires --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Attitudes towards Phonics Learning --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Attitudes towards English and English Learning --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Summary of the Questionnaire Results --- p.102 / Chapter 4.5 --- Qualitative Results from the Questionnaires --- p.103 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Learners' Feelings towards Phonics Learning --- p.103 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Things Students Like about the Phonics Course --- p.104 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Things Students Don't Like about the Phonics Course --- p.105 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Students' Ideas of Amending the Course --- p.105 / Chapter 4.6 --- Results from Confirmatory Factor Analysis using SEM --- p.106 / Chapter 4.7 --- Chapter Summary --- p.107 / Chapter 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.108 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.108 / Chapter 5.2 --- Significant Finding: Learners' Improvement in Sounding out Onsets --- p.108 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Onsets are Sequenced First in the Course --- p.109 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Onset as a Similar Feature between English and Chinese --- p.109 / Chapter 5.3 --- Significant Findings: Learners' Attitudes towards Phonics Learning --- p.110 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Attitudes towards Phonics Lessons --- p.110 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Attempts to Sound Out Unfamiliar Words --- p.111 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Anxiety Levels in Reading Aloud when Other People are Present --- p.111 / Chapter 5.4 --- An Examination of Findings that Fail to Support the Hypotheses --- p.112 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Vowels --- p.112 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Codas --- p.113 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Omissions --- p.114 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Learners' Intention to Encourage Others to Learn Phonics --- p.114 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Learners' Attitudes towards the English Language and English Learning --- p.115 / Chapter 5.5 --- Implications of the Present Study to the Current Model --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- A meaningful context is not adequate --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Having lessons at the right time --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Learners' Attendance and Involvement is an Important Factor --- p.118 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- The Attractiveness of the 'Product' Element --- p.118 / Chapter 5.5.5 --- The Contribution of These Implications to the SEM Model --- p.120 / Chapter 5.6 --- Implications of the Present Study to the Current Model --- p.120 / Chapter 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.121 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summing Up --- p.121 / Chapter 6.2 --- Limitations of the Present Study --- p.122 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Period of Study and Time for Designing the Course --- p.122 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- The Setting --- p.123 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Limited Number of Participants --- p.123 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Infeasibility of Having a Delayed Post-test --- p.124 / Chapter 6.3 --- Recommendations for Future Research --- p.110 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.125 / APPENDICE --- p.122 / Appendix 1 Approval Notice from the CUHK Survey and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee / Appendix 2 Application for Change in Thesis Title / Appendix 3 Invitation Letter Sent to Primary Schools / Appendix 4 Invitation Proposal Sent to Primary Schools / Appendix 5 Prepared Letters for Parents of the Participatory Primary School / Appendix 6 School Notice for Recruiting Students / Appendix 7 Course Outline / Appendix 8 Reading Aloud Tests / Chapter a) --- PowerPoint Slides Used in the Pre-test Session / Chapter b) --- Instructions for the Reading Aloud tests / Chapter c) --- Pre-test Reading Aloud Passage / Chapter d) --- Post-test Reading Aloud Passage / Appendix 9 a) Questionnaire (Pre-test) / Chapter b) --- Questionnaire (Post-test: Control Group) / Chapter c) --- Questionnaire (Post-test: Experimental Group)

This language attitudes study used a matched guise technique to compare participant reactions of American-accented English to Japanese-accented English. Participants (n = 40) were college educated adults living in the Portland area who completed an online survey which measured characteristics related to Status, Solidarity, and Dynamism using semantic differential Likert scales. Results showed that while Japanese-accented English received less favorable ratings on the Status and Solidarity dimensions on a statistically significant level, the small effect size may have indicated that the differences were negligible. Interpreting the results from the data through the World Englishes Kachruvian paradigm, it is argued that English learners and users would benefit by focusing more on achieving intelligibility than on attaining perfect control of an idealized variety of English.

<p>Within the last few hundred years, English has gone from being a rather small peripheral language to what it is today – a world language, spoken by millions of people worldwide. The best-known dialects to Swedish learners of English are British English (RP, Received Pronunciation) and American English (GA, General American). Traditionally, British English has been the variety taught in Swedish schools, but due to the recent and growing influence of American English, more and more pupils are using the American dialect. The purpose of this essay is to determine which of these dialects is more common among students in one Swedish school. I have also investigated if the teachers’ English pronunciation and their opinions of the different dialects, as well as the students’ own, have an impact on what variety the students choose to use.</p><p>The results of the study show that although all students mixed both dialects, American features were predominant. A small number of students spoke mainly British English. A majority of the students claimed to be influenced more by the media than by their teachers. When it comes to the students’ opinions of the two dialects it appeared that the students who used more features from one dialect proved to be more positive towards that dialect. Many students found British English to be snobbish. It was also seen as slightly more classy and beautiful than GA. American English was generally considered cool but cocky. It was not considered as intelligent-sounding as RP, but instead more friendly and reliable.</p>

published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Within the last few hundred years, English has gone from being a rather small peripheral language to what it is today – a world language, spoken by millions of people worldwide. The best-known dialects to Swedish learners of English are British English (RP, Received Pronunciation) and American English (GA, General American). Traditionally, British English has been the variety taught in Swedish schools, but due to the recent and growing influence of American English, more and more pupils are using the American dialect. The purpose of this essay is to determine which of these dialects is more common among students in one Swedish school. I have also investigated if the teachers’ English pronunciation and their opinions of the different dialects, as well as the students’ own, have an impact on what variety the students choose to use. The results of the study show that although all students mixed both dialects, American features were predominant. A small number of students spoke mainly British English. A majority of the students claimed to be influenced more by the media than by their teachers. When it comes to the students’ opinions of the two dialects it appeared that the students who used more features from one dialect proved to be more positive towards that dialect. Many students found British English to be snobbish. It was also seen as slightly more classy and beautiful than GA. American English was generally considered cool but cocky. It was not considered as intelligent-sounding as RP, but instead more friendly and reliable.

This thesis investigates the phonological ability of exceptional second language (L2) learners of English and their levels of motivation. This study is the first of its kind to do a large-scale examination of L2 learners whose first languages (L1s) do not belong to the same Indo-European language family as English. Fifteen non-native speakers (NNSs) of English filled out a questionnaire and produced four speech samples, including a picture description task, paragraph reading task, sentence reading and word reading task. Fifteen native speaker (NS) controls also produced the same speech samples. Four NSs judged all participants' accents. Six NNSs scored as highly as NSs on some of the speech segments using a 2-standard deviation (SD) cut-off point. There was no significant correlation between their scores on pronunciation and motivation.

Studies in third language acquisition (L3) add an exciting dimension to the field of language acquisition and present many interesting lines of research. One issue unique to L3 acquisition is the effect of second language (L2) experience on L3 acquisition. Because L3 learners have already experienced the process of language acquisition, it seems likely that the experiences, knowledge, and skills they may have gained while learning an L2 would transfer to, and even enhance, their ability to acquire an L3. It also seems reasonable to believe that the type of language previously studied would have an effect on learners' abilities to acquire additional languages of a similar type. Many research studies have affirmed these theories showing that L3 learners have an advantage in language learning which is absent in L2 learners. Other studies have shown L2 typology, level of proficiency, and extent of L2 experience to be contributing factors in adult L3 learners who had studied French or Spanish as an L2 for varying lengths of time, and were studying French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, or Russian as an L3. Participants' L2 experience, including length of study and language type, was compared to their scores on an L3 speaking assessment consisting of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and fluency ratings. A linear stepwise multiple regression analysis showed a modest trend in which length of L2 experience did have an effect on L3 acquisition. Although this trend did not achieve statistical significance, a hypothetical analysis showed that the trend became significant with the omission of three outliers. An analysis of variance demonstrated that type of language experience did not significantly affect L3 acquisition since participants from all five L3 groups received comparable scores on the speaking assessment. Another analysis of variance, however, showed language type to be a highly significant factor in the acquisition of L3 pronunciation. The results of the study suggest that length of L2 exposure does seem to affect L3 acquisition to some extent, although the trend found from the data was modest. The study also concluded that language typology was not a significant contributing factor in L3 acquisition, with the exception of its effect on the acquisition of L3 pronunciation.

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This paper examines three English teachers’ attitudes towards teaching pronunciation. The teachers involved are teachers at upper-secondary level in Sweden. The study is based on a qualitative method, since the research involves collecting data to understand opinions and experiences. The data in this study are collected through semi-structured interviews to analyze teachers’ attitudes. All of the three teachers agreed on their students having good pronunciation and mentioned different sounds as pronunciation difficulties that are problematic for their students. Furthermore, the three teachers expressed that they avoid correcting their students most of the time, however, when the teachers correct their students, they usually use a corrective method that can be interpreted as implicit feedback. Earlier research has shown that explicit feedback is the most effective method to use in a teaching environment to make it possible for students to improve their pronunciation.