Using Audio and Audio-Visual Feedback to Enhance Learners’ Perception and Production of Tag Questions

Intonation is fundamental to human speech in conveying meaning. Teachers and researchers have raised the concern that the intonation of a second language is difficult both to teach and to learn in the language classroom. However, due to particular characteristics of technology-based instruction, there is an increasing tendency to teach and learn second language intonation through the use of technology and software. For the above reasons, an open-access tool which incorporates computer-based audio-visual feedback was designed and piloted to help Chinese learners of English improve their perception and production of rising and falling tag questions. Six international students (native speakers of Mandarin) participated in the study. The participants were pre- and post tested on their perception (in context and in isolation) and production (in context) of question tags. The participants also underwent training lasting approximately two weeks. Each week, the participants were asked to complete two blocks of the training materials, for about 15-20 minutes each time. Individual semi-structured interviews took place after the training with all participants. Based on observations, pre- and post-test scores, and the interviews conducted, the results revealed that the participants have become more aware of their perception of tag questions. Also, the participants showed some improvement in their production of tag questions. Participants also stated that the two applications used: WASP, a software that allows the recording, display and analysis of speech and Online Audio Recording, a plug-in for the e-learning platform Moodle were beneficial, interesting to use and helpful for their learning.