Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique

The correct placement of word-level stress is a main concern in EFL speech intelligibility training. It is particularly important for EFL learners who have a drastically different stress system in their L1 (e.g. Persian). These learners usually misplace the primary stress in their L2 which subseq...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza, Ahmad Moinzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit UKM 2012
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/1/pp%2520521_537.pdf
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author Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza,
Ahmad Moinzadeh,
author_facet Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza,
Ahmad Moinzadeh,
author_sort Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The correct placement of word-level stress is a main concern in EFL speech intelligibility training. It is particularly important for EFL learners who have a drastically different stress system in their L1 (e.g. Persian). These learners usually misplace the primary stress in their L2 which subsequently may interrupt the flow of communication and leads to unintelligibility. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of musically-simulated patterns, as a new teaching technique, on the learning of word stress patterns of English. Musically-simulated patterns were defined in the context of the study as impressionistic patterns which were acoustically similar to word stress patterns of English. 30 Iranian EFL elementary learners at a language institute participated in the study. The new technique was used to teach four stress patterns of two- and three-syllable English words. The results of the posttest indicated that the participants in the experimental group (who listened to musically-simulated patterns) obtained significantly higher scores. Moreover, two-syllable words appeared to be more positively influenced by these musical patterns. It is suggested that L1 negative transfer and the inherent cognitive complexity of the stress patterns may contribute to the varying effect of these musical patterns. Finally, the possible applications of using this technique at both levels of material development and classroom practice are discussed.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:49292016-12-14T06:37:20Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/ Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza, Ahmad Moinzadeh, The correct placement of word-level stress is a main concern in EFL speech intelligibility training. It is particularly important for EFL learners who have a drastically different stress system in their L1 (e.g. Persian). These learners usually misplace the primary stress in their L2 which subsequently may interrupt the flow of communication and leads to unintelligibility. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of musically-simulated patterns, as a new teaching technique, on the learning of word stress patterns of English. Musically-simulated patterns were defined in the context of the study as impressionistic patterns which were acoustically similar to word stress patterns of English. 30 Iranian EFL elementary learners at a language institute participated in the study. The new technique was used to teach four stress patterns of two- and three-syllable English words. The results of the posttest indicated that the participants in the experimental group (who listened to musically-simulated patterns) obtained significantly higher scores. Moreover, two-syllable words appeared to be more positively influenced by these musical patterns. It is suggested that L1 negative transfer and the inherent cognitive complexity of the stress patterns may contribute to the varying effect of these musical patterns. Finally, the possible applications of using this technique at both levels of material development and classroom practice are discussed. Penerbit UKM 2012-05 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/1/pp%2520521_537.pdf Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza, and Ahmad Moinzadeh, (2012) Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique. GEMA: Online Journal of Language Studies, 12 (2 (spe). pp. 521-537. ISSN 1675-8021 http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppbl/Gema/gemahome.html
spellingShingle Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza,
Ahmad Moinzadeh,
Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title_full Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title_fullStr Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title_full_unstemmed Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title_short Teaching word stress patterns of English using a musically-simulated technique
title_sort teaching word stress patterns of english using a musically-simulated technique
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4929/1/pp%2520521_537.pdf