Short-term training helps second-language learners read like native readers: An ERP study

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial study aimed to examine what experience other than immersion may help adult learners read with native-like neural responses. We compared a group of 13 native Chinese English learners completing English letter-sound association training with another group of 12 completing visual symbol-sound association training and included one group of native English readers as the reference. The results showed that after three hours of training, all learners no longer showed attenuated cross-modal mismatch negativity (MMN) to English letter-sound integration as in the pretest. After six hours of training, the learners receiving English letter-sound association training showed enhanced cross-modal MMN and theta oscillations, as native English readers did. The enhanced neural responses were significantly correlated with better phonological awareness. Thus, with training specific to critical second language reading skills of appropriate dosages, adult learners can overcome the constraints of their native language background and learn to read with native-like neural responses.