An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Online Text-to-Speech Tools in Improving EFL Teacher Trainees' Pronunciation

Autor/inn/en	Eksi, Gonca Yangin; Yesilçinar, Sabahattin
Titel	An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Online Text-to-Speech Tools in Improving EFL Teacher Trainees' Pronunciation
Quelle	In: English Language Teaching, 9 (2016) 2, S.205-214 (10 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1916-4742
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Assistive Technology; Educational Technology; Computer Mediated Communication; English (Second Language); English Teachers; Trainees; Pronunciation; Pronunciation Instruction; Instructional Effectiveness; Electronic Learning; Oral Language; Achievement Tests; College Students; State Universities; Pretests Posttests; Questionnaires; Opinions; Scoring Rubrics; Dialects; Web Sites; Independent Study; Teacher Education; Oral Communication Method; Quasiexperimental Design; Likert Scales; Qualitative Research; Statistical Analysis; Turkey + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Unterrichtsmedien; Computerkonferenz; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; English language lessons; Teacher; Teachers; Englischunterricht; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Auszubildender; Weibliche Auszubildende; Aussprache; Ausspracheübung; Unterrichtserfolg; Oral interpretation; Mündlicher Sprachgebrauch; Achievement test; Achievement; Testing; Test; Tests; Leistungsbeurteilung; Leistungsüberprüfung; Leistung; Testdurchführung; Testen; Collegestudent; Staatliche Universität; Fragebogen; Lehrmeinung; Scoring formulas; Auswertungsbogen; Dialect; Dialekt; Web-Design; Selbststudium; Lehrerausbildung; Lehrerbildung; Oral communication; Mündliche Kommunikation; Likert-Skala; Qualitative Forschung; Statistische Analyse; Türkei
Abstract	Given the limited time for instruction in the classroom, pronunciation often ends up as the most neglected aspect of language teaching. However, in cases when the learner's pronunciation is expected to be good or native-like, as is expected of language teacher trainees, out-of-class self-study options become prominent. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of online text-to-speech tools used by EFL teacher trainees when preparing for an oral achievement test. The study was conducted with 43 junior year teacher trainees at a large state university in Turkey. A pre- and post-test experimental design was used. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire to explore the trainees' opinions related to pronunciation and their practices to improve this, a post reflection questionnaire for the effectiveness of the procedure, and a speaking rubric to evaluate the oral presentations of the trainees. The results indicate that the trainees perceived a native-like accent as a measure of being a good language teacher. It was also revealed that text-to-speech websites are effective self-study tools in improving trainees' pronunciation. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1120 Finch Avenue West Suite 701-309, Toronto, OH M3J 3H7, Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: elt@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01