KOTESOL International Conference 2016
(Concurrent Session)
Heather Reichmuth, Korea University
Anthony Hanf, Korea University
TV Sitcom Effects on Pronunciation
Abstract
This presentation will reveal the results of a 16 week action-research based study as to whether focused and extended exposure to a captioned foreign language sitcom can improve learner pronunciation. The theoretical assumptions behind this research are Krashen's Input Hypothesis, Schmidt's Noticing Hypothesis, and the Information Processing Theory. Pre (semester start) and post (semester end) recordings of over 100 learners were collected from students attending a Korean university. The researchers developed a pronunciation rubric that was used by ELT professionals to assess each sample. A coding system was developed to organize data and reduce rater bias, results were compared against control groups, and each speaking sample was double-rated and averaged in an attempt to reduce rater error and outliers in the data.
Biographicals
Heather Reichmuth is an assistant professor at Korea University for the Institute of Foreign Language Studies. She has been teaching EFL in South Korea since 2002 and holds a bachelor's in literature from the State University of New York at Purchase as well as a master's in teaching (TESOL) from the University of Southern California. She is interested in research in the field of ESL/EFL, publishing, pronunciation, teacher training, learner development, and curriculum development. In addition, she is the recipient of the 2016 KOTESOL Research Grant.
Anthony Hanf is an assistant professor at Korea University for the Institute of Foreign Language Studies. He has been teaching EFL in South Korea since 2009. He graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota where he earned four majors in History, Social Studies 5-12, TESOL K-12, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language. He holds a Masters in TESOL from Anaheim University. His chapter entitled "Resourcing Authentic Language in Television Series" appears in Nunan and Richard's textbook Language Learning Beyond the Classroom and is what inspired the current study.
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