[COOPER 123] Examining Audio Materials for Learners of Japanese: Speed and Authenticity Compared to L1 Speech
Abstract (250 words or less in English or 500 characters or less in Japanese)
Learners of foreign languages often express difficulties with their listening comprehension of authentic materials even when they have the skills to understand the materials developed for learning purposes. One of the possible causes for this disparity may be the difference in conversation speed between authentic materials and the materials created for learners, since the materials for learners are often slowed down for the ease of understanding. The present study explores the speech speed of audio materials that are developed for elementary and intermediate-level textbooks of Japanese in comparison to the speech speed of naturally occurring conversations among native speakers of Japanese. The results of the present study show that the audio materials for elementary-level learners included 4.27 morae (sound unit of Japanese) per second, while natural conversations between native speakers included 7.55 morae per second. This finding indicates that the speech speed of the audio materials for elementary-level learners was approximately 56.6% of the speech speed in naturally occurring conversations among L1 speakers of Japanese. In addition, the audio materials for intermediate-level learners included 5.75 morae per second, which was about 76.2% of the speed of naturally occurring conversations among L1 speakers. Based on the comparison between the materials for learners and L1 speakers of Japanese, the present study discusses the importance of exposing learners to audio materials in authentic speed, and how authentic audio materials can be integrated into everyday classroom teaching.
Language
English
Location
Cooper Hall 123
Start Date
10-2-2018 2:30 PM
End Date
10-2-2018 3:00 PM
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speakers (if available)
[COOPER 123] Examining Audio Materials for Learners of Japanese: Speed and Authenticity Compared to L1 Speech
Cooper Hall 123
Learners of foreign languages often express difficulties with their listening comprehension of authentic materials even when they have the skills to understand the materials developed for learning purposes. One of the possible causes for this disparity may be the difference in conversation speed between authentic materials and the materials created for learners, since the materials for learners are often slowed down for the ease of understanding. The present study explores the speech speed of audio materials that are developed for elementary and intermediate-level textbooks of Japanese in comparison to the speech speed of naturally occurring conversations among native speakers of Japanese. The results of the present study show that the audio materials for elementary-level learners included 4.27 morae (sound unit of Japanese) per second, while natural conversations between native speakers included 7.55 morae per second. This finding indicates that the speech speed of the audio materials for elementary-level learners was approximately 56.6% of the speech speed in naturally occurring conversations among L1 speakers of Japanese. In addition, the audio materials for intermediate-level learners included 5.75 morae per second, which was about 76.2% of the speed of naturally occurring conversations among L1 speakers. Based on the comparison between the materials for learners and L1 speakers of Japanese, the present study discusses the importance of exposing learners to audio materials in authentic speed, and how authentic audio materials can be integrated into everyday classroom teaching.