Cover not available
Article published In:
Learner Corpus Research for Pedagogical Purposes
Edited by Sandra Götz and Sylviane Granger
[International Journal of Learner Corpus Research 10:1] 2024
► pp. 39–66
 

Teaching L2 speech fluency with learner‑corpus‑based awareness‑raising activities

Insights from a short-term intervention study

| University of Turku
| University of Turku

Second language (L2) speech fluency has been found to develop especially in study-abroad contexts, while few studies have examined fluency development in formal instruction. Furthermore, the instructional approaches have rarely targeted fluency specifically. The present study examines the effects of a teaching experiment utilizing learner-corpus-based awareness-raising activities on L2 fluency development in formal instruction. Eighteen Finnish university students of English, divided into control and experimental groups, provided speech samples at the beginning and end of an L2 English pronunciation course. The samples were analyzed with a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analyses demonstrated mostly minor differences in fluency development across the groups. Qualitative analyses demonstrated individual learning trajectories regarding stalling mechanisms. The findings suggest that while corpus-based awareness-raising activities can be beneficial for supporting L2 fluency development, a more extensive teaching approach is needed for full effects. The study has implications for L2 fluency research and pedagogy.

Keywords: fluency, intervention, pedagogy, second language speech, mixed-methods
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background
  • 3.Methodology and materials
    • 3.1Participants
    • 3.2Data collection
    • 3.3Procedure and data analysis
  • 4.Results
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 28 June 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijlcr.00040.pel
References
Borràs, J., & Llanes, À.
(2021) Re-examining the impact of study abroad on L2 development: A critical overview. The Language Learning Journal, 49 1, 527–540. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Council of Europe
(2001) Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cucchiarini, C., Strik, H., & Boves, L.
(2002) Quantitative assessment of second language learners’ fluency: Comparisons between read and spontaneous speech. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 111 1, 2862–2873. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
De Jong, N. H.
(2016) Fluency in second language assessment. In D. Tsagari, & J. Banerjee (Eds.), Handbook of second language assessment (pp. 203–218). De Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2018) Fluency in second language testing: Insights from different disciplines. Language Assessment Quarterly, 15 1, 237–254. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
De Jong, N. H., & Wempe, T.
(2009) Praat script to detect syllable nuclei and measure speech rate automatically. Behavior Research Methods, 41 1, 385–390. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
De Jong, N., & Perfetti, C. A.
(2011) Fluency training in the ESL classroom: An experimental study of fluency development and proceduralization. Language Learning, 61 1, 533–568. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Degand, L., Gilquin, G., Meurant, L., & Simon, A. C.
(2019) Introduction. In L. Degand, G. Gilquin, L. Meurant, & A. C. Simon (Eds.), Fluency and disfluency across languages and language varieties (pp. 9–14). Presses Universitaires de Louvain.Google Scholar
Derwing, T. M.
(2017) L2 fluency development. In S. Loewen, & M. Sato (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of instructed Second Language Acquisition (pp. 246–259). Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Derwing, T. M., Munro, M. J., & Thomson, R. I.
(2008) A longitudinal study of ESL learners’ fluency and comprehensibility development. Applied Linguistics, 29 1, 359–380. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Doe, T.
(2021) Fluency development in an EFL setting: A one-semester study. Language Teaching Research. Advance online publication. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dörnyei, Z.
(1995) On the teachability of communication strategies. TESOL Quarterly, 29 1, 55–85. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dörnyei, Z., & Kormos, J.
(1998) Problem-solving mechanisms in L2 communication: A psycholinguistic perspective. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 20 1, 349–385. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dumont, A.
(2018) Fluency and disfluency: A corpus study of non-native and native speaker (dis)fluency profiles (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Université catholique de Louvain. [URL]
Finnish National Agency for Education
(2019) Lukion opetussuunnitelman perusteet 2019 [National core curriculum for upper secondary schools 2019]. [URL]
Götz, S.
(2013) Fluency in native and nonnative English speech. John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Guillot, M.-N.
(1999) Fluency and its teaching. Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Hanzawa, K.
(2024) Development of second language speech fluency in foreign language classrooms: A longitudinal study. Language Teaching Research, 281, 816–838. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Housen, A., Kuiken, F., & Vedder, I.
(Eds.) (2012) Dimensions of L2 performance and proficiency: Complexity, accuracy and fluency in SLA. John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Huensch, A., & Tracy-Ventura, N.
(2017) L2 utterance fluency development before, during, and after residence abroad: A multidimensional investigation. The Modern Language Journal, 101 1, 275–293. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kormos, J.
(2006) Speech production and Second Language Acquisition. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Kormos, J., & Dénes, M.
(2004) Exploring measures and perceptions of fluency in the speech of second language learners. System, 32 1, 145–164. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Larson-Hall, J.
(2010) A guide to doing statistics in second language research using SPSS. Routledge.Google Scholar
Lennes, M.
(2002) Total duration of labeled segments. Praat script. [URL]
Lennon, P.
(1990) Investigating fluency in EFL: A quantitative approach. Language Learning, 40 1, 387–417. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lintunen, P., & Eirola, V.
(2023) Organizing an in-service teacher training module – societal interaction at its best. EnglanTY blog. [URL]
Lintunen, P., & Mäkilähde, A.
(2018) Short- and long-term effects of pronunciation teaching: EFL learners’ views. In J. Volín, & R. Skarnitzl (Eds.), Pronunciation of English by Speakers of Other Languages (pp. 46–72). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.Google Scholar
Lintunen, P., Mutta, M., & Peltonen, P.
(2020) Synthesising approaches to second language fluency: Implications and future directions. In P. Lintunen, M. Mutta, & P. Peltonen (Eds.), Fluency in L2 learning and use (pp. 186–201). Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Mitrunen, M.
(2023) Sallivuutta suulliseen ilmaisuun syntyperäisten puhetta havainnoimalla [More tolerance towards spoken expression by observing native speech]. In P. Lintunen, S. Mäkinen, & V. Eirola (Eds.), Sujuvuutta suulliseen kielitaitoon: Näkökulmia kielten opetukseen [Fluent oral proficiency: Perspectives on language teaching] (pp. 82–86). University of Turku. [URL]Google Scholar
Mora, J. C., & Valls-Ferrer, M.
(2012) Oral fluency, accuracy, and complexity in formal instruction and study abroad learning contexts. TESOL Quarterly, 46 1, 610–641. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Peltonen, P.
(2020) Individual and interactional speech fluency in L2 English from a problem-solving perspective: A mixed-methods approach. University of Turku.Google Scholar
(2021, July). Development of individual and interactional L2 fluency. Paper presented at the 30th EuroSLA conference 2021, University of Barcelona, Spain (online). [URL]
Peltonen, P., & Lehtilä, E.
(2023) Sujuvuus oppimisen ja arvioinnin kohteena [Fluency as the target of learning and assessment]. In P. Lintunen, S. Mäkinen, & V. Eirola (Eds.), Sujuvuutta suulliseen kielitaitoon: Näkökulmia kielten opetukseen [Fluent oral proficiency: Perspectives on language teaching] (pp. 8–15). University of Turku. [URL]Google Scholar
Peltonen, P., & Lintunen, P.
(2016) Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in L2 fluency analysis: A study of Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking learners of English at two school levels. European Journal of Applied Linguistics, 4 1, 209–238. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2019, August). Short-term development of L2 fluency in formal instruction: A mixed methods study. Paper presented at the 29th EuroSLA conference 2019, Lund University, Sweden. [URL]
Rossiter, M. J., Derwing, T. M., Manimtim, L. G., & Thomson, R. I.
(2010) Oral fluency: The neglected component in the communicative language classroom. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 66 1, 583–606. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Segalowitz, N.
(2010) The cognitive bases of second language fluency. Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Segalowitz, N., & Freed, B.
(2004) Context, contact, and cognition in oral fluency acquisition: Learning Spanish in at home and study abroad contexts. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 26 1, 173–199. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Skehan, P.
(2009) Modelling second language performance: Integrating complexity, accuracy, fluency, and lexis. Applied Linguistics, 30 1, 510–532. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tavakoli, P.
(2018) L2 development in an intensive study abroad EAP context. System, 72 1, 62–74. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tavakoli, P., Campbell, C., & McCormack, J.
(2016) Development of speech fluency over a short period of time: Effects of pedagogic intervention. TESOL Quarterly, 50 1, 447–471. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tavakoli, P., & Hunter, A.-M.
(2018) Is fluency being ‘neglected’ in the classroom? Teacher understanding of fluency and related classroom practices. Language Teaching Research, 22 1, 330–349. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tavakoli, P., Nakatsuhara, F., & Hunter, A.-M.
(2020) Aspects of fluency across assessed levels of speaking proficiency. The Modern Language Journal, 104 1, 169–191. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tavakoli, P., & Wright, C.
(2020) Second language speech fluency: From research to practice. Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tonkyn, A.
(2012) Measuring and perceiving changes in oral complexity, accuracy and fluency: Examining instructed learners’ short-term gains. In A. Housen, F. Kuiken, & I. Vedder (Eds.), Dimensions of L2 performance and proficiency: Complexity, accuracy and fluency in SLA (pp. 221–246). John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Towell, R.
(2002) Relative degrees of fluency: A comparative case study of advanced learners of French. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 40 1, 117–150. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Towell, R., Hawkins, R., & Bazergui, N.
(1996) The development of fluency in advanced learners of French. Applied Linguistics, 17 1, 84–119. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Wolk, C., Götz, S., & Jäschke, K.
(2020) Possibilities and drawbacks of using an online application for semi-automatic corpus analysis to investigate discourse markers and alternative fluency variables. Corpus Pragmatics, 5 1, 7–36. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Wood, D.
(2006) Uses and functions of formulaic sequences in second language speech: An exploration of the foundations of fluency. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 63 1, 13–33.Google Scholar