Examining the Effect of EyeSpeak Perception Training

• Main Authors: Hsiang-chun Lu, 盧香君
• Other Authors: Tsae-tzy Wang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/87831570989821222409

碩士 === 國立屏東教育大學 === 英語學系 === 100 === This study aims to examine the effectiveness of EyeSpeak perception training (a software designed for English perception training) on Taiwanese college students'' production of English word-initial stop consonants /p, b, t, d, k, g/, and English listening comprehension; besides, to understand what problems Taiwanese college students would encounter during the training and explore the participants'' attitudes toward EyeSpeak perception training. Three volunteers who were sophomores from a university in Pingtung participated in this study. After the EyeSpeak perception training of five weeks, which is four hours per week, the results of this study showed that EyeSpeak perception training significantly improved the three participants'' production of English word-initial stops via the examination of voice onset time (VOT) values. Besides, subject A''s and C''s scores of TOEIC listening comprehension test were enhanced after the training. Moreover, analysis of the participants'' training journals and the researcher''s field notes indicated where they experienced English pronunciation problems and difficulties in operating the EyeSpeak software. The participants indicated that EyeSpeak perception training was beneficial to the improvement of their overall English pronunciation and English learning, and gave EFL learners improved confidence to speak in English. This study provides some suggestions for future English teachers using EyeSpeak perception training software in English teaching, also presents some limitations and suggestions for future studies the developer of the EyeSpeak software.