Persian ITAs and Speech Comprehensibility: Using CAPT for Pronunciation Improvement

Autor/in	Rouhollahi, Amir
Titel	Persian ITAs and Speech Comprehensibility: Using CAPT for Pronunciation Improvement
Quelle	(2023), (122 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Memphis
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	979-8-3794-3154-9
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Foreign Countries; Foreign Students; Teaching Assistants; Computer Assisted Instruction; Pronunciation Instruction; Suprasegmentals; Intelligibility; Feedback (Response); Undergraduate Students; Tutoring; Video Technology; Iran + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Ausland; Computer based training; Computerunterstützter Unterricht; Ausspracheübung; Förderkonzept; Nachhilfeunterricht
Abstract	It has been shown in the past that International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) struggle with phonological and communication issues in the classroom (Pickering, 1999; 2001). This issue leads to misunderstandings between ITAs and undergraduate students, frustrating them both as well as the parents of the students and the departments. However, studies have shown that with the right training, ITAs can focus on suprasegmental features, improving their speech comprehensibility and intelligibility (Gorusch, 2011). This study investigates the effect of Computer Assisted Pronunciation Teaching (CAPT) via tutorial videos and visual feedback on the improvement of ITAs' speech comprehensibility. Across 5 US universities, 60 Persian ITAs, a video group (n=20), a visual feedback group(n=21), and a control group (n=19), completed an oral production pretest and recorded five diagnostic sentences plus spontaneous speech files. Over the next six weeks, all groups received in-person non-CAPT instruction, but the video group received and watched extra eight tutorial videos designed to target suprasegmental features and the feedback group was exposed to Praat visual feedback. Participants were also paired with a pronunciation tutor who provided instruction and feedback once a week. A perception posttest was administered, and the same 5 sentences with the spontaneous talk were once again recorded. The pre- and post-treatment sentences were then rated by 169 undergraduate students for comprehensibility. The findings of this study provide a greater understanding of how explicit instruction of pronunciation through CAPT can improve the speech comprehensibility of ITAs. The number of international people in academic and professional contexts is rising, it is necessary to guide them through appropriate instruction to improve their communication quality. The results of this study suggest that even short intervention programs that include targeted in-person tutoring, tutorial videos, and visual feedback may improve ITAs' communications. Results also imply the need for pronunciation support for ITAs in their respective academic institutions. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01