A debated issue in L2 speech learning is how and whether perception improves production, both work together, or each modality works autonomously. To help disentangle this problem, our project assesses the relative weight and effect of each training modality in the early stages of Portuguese L2 speech learning, while connecting the performance of the learners with their individual cognitive abilities.
Research questions
- Is there an interaction between production and perception in L2 speech learning?
- What is the role of perceptual and/or production training in L2 speech learning?
- Is L2 speech learning mediated by cognitive factors?
Theoretical and methodological innovation
This exploratory research will put forward several aspects that, integrated, are theoretically and methodologically innovative:
(i) It focuses on an understudied language constellation – English L1 and Portuguese L2;
(ii) It explores the effect of three complementary training conditions (perception, production and perception and production) in L2 speech learning;
(iii) It tests the mediating effect of cognitive factors (phonological working memory and auditory discrimination) in L2 speech learning, and finally
(iv) It will be fully web-based (including recruitment, participants payment and experiment implementation).
The potential for breakthrough findings in this project includes new data about the nature of the L2 speech learning process and has implications for the applied field of L2 teaching and learning.
Importantly, the output of this project will produce evidence to improve speech recognition technology and artificial intelligence using L2 speech. The project will take a step forward in helping to develop a training programme with feedback on both production and perception modalities. This requires technology that already exists for English or Spanish, but not for Portuguese L2.
