Integrating Web-based Collaborative Learning into the Pronunciation Curriculum

Abstract

Pronunciation learning is a highly individualized process which should be tailored to the specific needs of students of different academic backgrounds and learning styles. For learners of English pronunciation in an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) context, self-regulated learning plays a key role in determining the learning outcome. In an era where Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) has proven a successful teaching model, one crucial challenge in pronunciation instruction is the transformation from teacher-led classroom lectures to student-centered collaborative learning. In this study, we present our recent experience in the design and implementation of a pronunciation curriculum which integrates Web-based collaborative learning into pronunciation instruction both in and outside the classroom. Through a discussion of the benefits and challenges in adopting such a hybrid approach, we demonstrate how Web-based technologies can be utilized to facilitate the teaching and learning of pronunciation in an EFL context.