Good English Pronunciation Users and their Pronunciation Learning Strategies

The study investigates pronunciation learning strategies (PLS) deployed by those with good English pronunciation, as well as their beliefs concerning the variables that affect pronunciation competence. In order to collect data for analysis this study surveyed 61 participants who had learned English as a foreign language. They comprised 28 higher education teachers and scholars specialising in English phonetics and phonology, who were defined as good pronunciation users (GPU), and 33 EFL teacher training students, viewed as average pronunciation learners (APL). This cohort responded to a survey on pronunciation learning strategies and expressed their views on several aspects affecting the L2 pronunciation learning process. These aspects were: age of the first contact with L2 (age of onset), motivation, exposure to the target language, the teacher’s pronunciation model, and learning strategies. The study used both open- and close-ended question formats to collect data from both GPU and APL. The analyses of the data helped to create a tentative profile of a successful L2 pronunciation learner

Researching pronunciation learning strategies: An overview and a critical look

Disparate goals that learners might have in learning second or foreign language pronunciation and the scant classroom time that can be dedicated to teaching this target language subsystem dictate that learner autonomy is of vital importance in this case and adept use of pronunciation learning strategies (PLS) can be viewed as key to the development of this attribute. Surprisingly, research on these strategies is scarce, mainly focusing on the identification and classification of PLS, diverse instruments are used for data collection and the findings are inconclusive. The paper provides an overview of the available research on PLS with respect to their identification, learners’ preferences concerning their use, factors mediating the application of PLS, and the effects of strategies-based instruction in this area. An attempt is also made to assess research of this kind and to suggest how it could be taken forward to provide insights that would be of value to practitioners

L2 Accentedness and Language Self-Esteem in Foreign Language Learning

Accentedness is associated with listeners’ evaluative judgements, which might affect an L2 speaker’s construction of an image about linguistic self-worth and competence, described as language (L2) self-esteem. This line of inquiry is pursued in the study presented in this paper, which investigates the relationship between L2 self-esteem and the extent to which a learner’s L2 pronunciation differs from a listener’s representation of it – accentedness. The results show that the level of L2 self-esteem correlates with accentedness, and the direction of this correlation is negative (r = -.51). The findings also reveal that the L2 self-esteem levels of the participants whose accentedness is closer to native-like are significantly higher than those of the individuals with strongly accented speech

Foreign language anxiety and self-perceived English pronunciation competence

In foreign language learning a negative correlation has been reported between language anxiety and both oral performance (Liu, 2006; Stephenson Wilson, 2006; Woodrow 2006) and self-perceived levels of speaking ability (Kitano, 2001; MacIntyre, Noels, & Clement, 1997; Piechurska-Kuciel, 2008). However, little is known about the relationship between language anxiety and the way students perceive their own competence regarding one of the integral components of oral performance – pronunciation. The present study is an attempt to investigate the link between foreign language anxiety and the self-perceived levels of pronunciation of 48 teacher training college students, who study English as a foreign language. A negative correlation, r = -.54 (p < .05), was found between the level of their language anxiety and self-perceived English pronunciation competence, indicating that more apprehensive teacher trainees perceived their pronunciation as poor, whereas those with lower levels of anxiety declared higher pronunciation competence. Moreover, statistically significant negative correlations were noted between the levels of anxiety and self-perceived competences of several suprasegmental aspects of pronunciation, such as word pronunciation, stress, weak forms, rhythm, linking, and assimilation. The teacher trainees who rated their competence of these suprasegmentals more highly experienced lower levels of foreign language anxiety. The perception of segmentals, however, appeared to be unconnected with the participants’ anxiety

Towards crossing the borders in foreign language teacher training: A report on a pilot phase of the Tandem Learning for Teacher Training project

The aim of the paper is to present the results of a pilot project for foreign language (FL) teacher education, in which trainee teachers’ knowledge and awareness of intercultural and cross-educational similarities and differences between two cooperating institutions from socio-culturally and linguistically distant countries – Israel and Poland – are elicited. The data collected serves as a springboard for designing an international project for FL trainee teachers to be implemented as a part of a teacher training course. In the project the trainee teachers coming from geographically, culturally and linguistically detached backgrounds, Israeli and Polish, are to participate in tandem learning understood as paired sessions of knowledge and experience exchange between FL trainee teachers via online communicators. The pilot phase, therefore, is an initial but indispensable stage evaluating the extent to which trainee teachers are ready to confront and share their educational background, cultural and linguistic knowledge with their peers from a geographically and socio-culturally distant country. A group of fourteen trainee teachers of Opole University participated in the pilot project measuring the participants’ readiness to engage in crossing the aforementioned borders with the help of a closed and open-item&nbsp;questionnaire focusing on the degrees of awareness of a number of aspects, for instance, culture and L1-based differences in approaching FL teaching. The application of the instrument generated quantitative and qualitative data, whose analysis supported the design of the final Tandem Learning Teacher Training (TLTT) program.Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie pilotażowej fazy projektu skierowanego do przyszłych nauczycieli języka angielskiego, jako obcego, w której dokonują oni ewaluacji swojej wiedzy, podejścia i świadomości międzykulturowej oraz znajomości różnic i podobieństw pomiędzy współpracującymi ze sobą, a odległymi społecznie, kulturowo i językowo instytucjami kształcącymi przyszłych nauczycieli w Izraelu i Polsce. Zebrane dane stanowią podstawę do stworzenia innowacyjnego międzynarodowego projektu, wykraczającego poza ramy dotychczasowych kursów szkoleniowych dla przyszłych nauczycieli języka angielskiego w obu krajach. Projekt docelowy zakłada wykorzystanie uczenia się na odległość w tandemie, polegającym na regularnej wymianie myśli i doświadczeń na temat nauczania języka angielskiego jako obcego w obu krajach w celu uwrażliwienia uczestników szkolenia na tematy wynikające z różnorodności społeczno-kulturowej i językowej uczniów. Projekt pilotażowy stanowi więc początkową, niezwykle istotną fazę, oceniającą stopień, w jakim przyszli nauczycieli są gotowi przekraczać bariery społeczno-kulturowe, językowe i psychologiczne, niezbędne do współpracy w tandemie. Grupa czternastu przyszłych nauczycieli języka angielskiego z Uniwersytetu Opolskiego wzięła udział w projekcie pilotażowym, mierzącym gotowość do przekraczania ww. granic. Narzędziem pomiarowym był kwestionariusz, składający się z pytań zamkniętych i otwartych, dotyczących, między innymi, świadomości różnic w podejściu do nauczania języka angielskiego jako obcego w kraju partnerskim. Analiza pozyskanych danych ilościowych i jakościowych posłużyła do nakreślenia obszaru tematycznego w przyszłym projekcie Kształcenia Nauczycieli Języka Obcego na Odległość w Tandemie (Tandem Learning Teacher Training project – TLTT)

Zooming into the L2 Speech Fluency Markers of Anxious and Non-Anxious Advanced L2 Learners – an Extreme Case Sampling Report

The study examines selected temporal markers of L2 utterance fluency in the speech of advanced L2 learners who exhibit high (HLA) and low (LLA) language anxiety levels. Out of the pool of 59 participants, six HLA and six LLA individuals were selected for an in-depth analysis on the basis of their scores on the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (the FLCAS) (Horwitz, Horwitz, & Cope, 1986). Speech samples from a monologue task were examined for selected L2 utterance fluency measures: filled (FP) and silent pause (SP) frequency, mean length of silent pause (MLSP), articulation rate (AR), speech rate (SR), and mean length of run (MLR). The results provided insights into the L2 speech fluency profiles of anxious and non-anxious individuals. The analysis disclosed relatively higher frequency and disparate application of FPs, slower speed of speech, and more varied profiles in MLR in the HLA group as compared to the LLA group. The findings yield pedagogical and methodological implications

Predicting Interest in Orthodontic Aligners: A Google Trends Data Analysis

Aligners are an example of how advances in dentistry can develop from innovative combinations of 3D technologies in imaging, planning and printing to provide new treatment modalities. With increasing demand for esthetic orthodontic treatment, aligners have grown in popularity because they are esthetically more pleasing and less obstructive to oral hygiene and other oral functions compared to fixed orthodontic appliances. To observe and estimate aligner treatment interest among Google Search users, Google Trends data were obtained and analyzed for the search term, “Invisalign”. A prediction of interest for the year 2022 for three European Union countries with the highest GDP was developed. “Invisalign” was chosen to represent all orthodontic aligners as the most searched term in Google Trends for aligners. This is the first study to predict interest in the query “Invisalign” in a Google search engine. The Prophet algorithm, which depends on advanced statistical analysis methods, positions itself as an automatic prediction procedure and was used to predict Google Trends data. Seasonality modeling was based on the standard Fourier series to provide a flexible model of periodic effects. The results predict an increase in “Invisalign” in Google Trends queries in the coming year, increasing by around 6%, 9% and 13% by the end of 2022 compared to 2021 for France, Italy and Germany, respectively. Forecasting allows practitioners to plan for growing demand for particular treatments, consider taking continuing education, specifically, aligner certification courses, or introduce modern scanning technology into offices. The oral health community can use similar prediction tools and methods to remain alert to future changes in patient demand to improve the responses of professional organizations as a whole, work more effectively with governments if needed, and provide better coordination of care for patients

Evaluation of exercise capacity with cardiopulmonary exercise test and B-type natriuretic peptide in adults with congenital heart disease

Background: Adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) usually find their exercise capacity satisfactory. However, objective evaluation is important for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise tests and measurement of serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in adult patients with CHDs, both in the entire study cohort and in subjects with individual types of cardiac lesions, as well as to verify the relation between BNP level and cardiac performance. Methods: The study group included 265 patients (136 males; mean age 34.4 &#177; 11.6 years) 173 of whom were operated on at the mean age of 9.2 &#177; 7.3 years. They represented the following types of CHD: 72 patients - surgically corrected coarctation of the aorta, 62 - surgically corrected tetralogy of Fallot, 28 - Ebstein anomaly, 26 - patent atrial septal defect, 24 - Eisenmenger syndrome, 20 - uncorrected or palliated complex cyanotic lesions, 11 - corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA), 14 - TGA after Senning operation, and 8 - common ventricle after Fontana operation. The control group consisted of 39 healthy individuals (17 males) with a mean age of 35.8 &#177; 9.3 years. Results: According to NYHA classification, 207 patients were recognized as representing class I symptoms, 47 subjects class II, and 11 class III. Cardiopulmonary exercise revealed significantly reduced exercise capacity in adults with CHD in general, compared to control subjects: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was 23.3 &#177; 6.9 vs. 33.6 &#177; 7.2 mL/kg/min, respectively (p = 0.00001); maximum heart rate at peak exercise (HRmax) -161.1 &#177; 33.2 vs. 179.6 &#177; 12.3 bpm (p = 0.00001); respiratory workload (VE/VCO2slope) - 35.7 &#177; 9.7 vs. 26.3 &#177; 3.1 (p = 0.00001); and forced vital capacity (FVC) - 3.8 &#177; 1.1 vs. 4.6 &#177; 0.7 L (p = = 0.00003). Various degrees of peak VO2max reduction were observed across the spectrum of CHD. Patients after repair of aortic coarctation demonstrated the highest VO2max (26.8 &#177; 6.6 mL/kg/min), and the lowest was demonstrated by patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (12.8 &#177; 4.8; ANOVA p = 0.00001). Serum BNP levels in the study group were higher than in the controls: 55.4 &#177; 67.5 vs. 13.9 &#177; 13.7 pg/mL, respectively (p = 0.00001). Various degrees of BNP level increase were found across the spectrum of CHD. Patients after repair of aortic coarctation demonstrated the lowest BNP level (24.8 pg/mL), and the highest level was found in patients with cyanotic defects (120.7 pg/mL; ANOVA p = 0.00001). BNP levels across the NYHA classes were as follows: I - 35.7 pg/mL, II - 94.1 pg/mL, and III - 225.6 pg/mL. BNP levels showed negative correlation with VO2max (r = &#8211;0.525, p = 0.0001), FVC (r = = &#8211;0.349, p = 0.00001), FEV1 (r = &#8211;0.335, p= 0.00001), and positive correlation with VE/VCO2slope (r = 0.447, p = 0.00001). Conclusions: The exercise capacity of patients with CHD is, in general, compromised, most strikingly in patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension and cyanosis. Serum BNP levels in these subjects are increased and correlate well with exercise capacity. BNP level is higher in patients with cyanotic CHDs

The Electrical Activity of the Orbicularis Oris Muscle in Children with Down Syndrome—A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to assess the electrical activity of the superior (SOO) and inferior (IOO) orbicularis oris muscles in children with Down syndrome (DS) and in children without DS. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 subjects were eligible to participate in the later stages of the research—15 subjects with DS (mean age 10.1 1.1) and 15 healthy controls (mean age 9.8 1.0). The electrical potentials of the SOO and IOO muscles were recorded using a DAB-Bluetooth electromyography machine (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) during the following tasks: At clinical rest, saliva swallowing, lip protrusion, lip compression, and production of the syllable/pa/. The Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to compare the study results between the groups. An analysis of the electromyographical (EMG) recordings showed that the electrical activity of the orbicularis oris muscle in children with DS and lip incompetence was significantly higher compared to healthy children during saliva swallowing, lip compression, and when producing the syllable/pa/, and this may suggest greater muscular effort due to the need to seal the lips during these functional conditions

Cardiopulmonary exercise test in the evaluation of exercise capacity, arterial hypertension, and degree of descending aorta stenosis in adults after repair of coarctation of the aorta

Background: Despite effective repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoAo), arterial hypertension (AH) and early coronary artery disease that may result in heart failure. The aim of the study was to evaluate exercise capacity by a cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients after of CoAo repair, and to determine relations between these parameters and the presence of AH, residual stenosis of the descending aorta (AoD) and the patient&#8217;s age at the time of the surgery. Methods: 74 patients at mean age 31.2 &plusmn; 9.8 years. The controls: 30 at mean age 32.2 &plusmn; 6.6. Descending aorta (AoD) gradient was evaluated by echocardiography. The group with residual AoD stenosis: &#8805; 25 mm Hg (AoD+) 32 patients and AoD&#8211;: 41 patients. Subgroups without AH (AH&#8211;, n = 32), exercise-induced AH (AHex, n = 10), persistent AH (AH+, n = 32). The maximum exercise test was performed. Results: A comparison of the study and control groups: VO2max: p = 0.0001), VO2max%: p=0.0001 and VE/VCO2: p = 0.001. Negative correlation: between VO2max and the age at the time of surgery: p = 0.004) and a positive: between VE/VCO2 and age at surgery: p = 0.005. No differences were observed between the AoD+ and AoD&#8211; groups with respect to cardiopulmonary parameters. A comparison of the AH+ and AH&#8211; groups revealed: VO2max: p = 0.01, VO2max%: p = 0.02 and VE/VCO2: p = 0.003. A comparison of the AHex and AH&#8211; groups showed VE/VCO2: p = 0.01. Conclusions: The exercise capacity of adults after surgical CoAo repair is reduced. This is more pronounced in patients with AH and those operated on at a more advanced age, but not in AoD+. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 76&#8211;82