Seminar | Embodied Prosody: A Path to Better Pronunciation in Second Language Learning
Seminars / Lectures / Workshops
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Date
21 Feb 2025
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Organiser
Department of English and Communication
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Time
17:30 - 18:30
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Venue
Online via Zoom
Speaker
Dr Florence Baills
Dr Pilar Prieto
Remarks
This event is jointly organised with the International Society for Gestures Studies - Hong Kong
Summary
Embodied cognition, which integrates full-body movements and gestures, has been shown to enhance cognitive functions and learning processes, including second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition. While research in L2 pronunciation has primarily focused on the positive effects of visuospatial gestures for segmental improvements, this presentation will provide empirical evidence demonstrating the efficacy of embodied prosodic-based training as a scaffolding mechanism for L2 speech production. We will examine the outcomes of six training studies conducted by our research team, which demonstrate the advantages of embodied prosody-based training sessions incorporating hand gestures and handclapping for L2 pronunciation enhancement. A comparative analysis of effect sizes from these studies reveals that such training sessions yield medium to large effects on accent reduction and prosodic accuracy improvement. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of ongoing efforts to incorporate embodied pronunciation instruction into communicative language teaching frameworks.
Keynote Speaker
Dr Florence Baills
Lecturer, University of Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
Dr. Florence Baills is a lecturer at the University of Lleida, Catalunya. Her research explores how body movements can enhance second language learning in children and adults, particularly in developing oral pragmatic skills and pronunciation. She aims to connect research with practice by supporting teacher training and classroom-based ecological interventions. Her work has been published in leading SLA and Applied Linguistics journals, including Applied Linguistics, Language Learning, and Studies in Second Language Acquisition.
Dr Pilar Prieto
ICREA Research Professor, Department of Translation and Language Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
Dr. Pilar Prieto is an ICREA Research Professor at the Department of Translation and Language Sciences at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalunya. Her research focuses on the role of prosody and body and gestural movements in multimodal communication, as well as their significance in boosting first and second language development. She serves as associate editor of the journals Language and Speech and Frontiers in Communication. She is currently coediting a special issue of Language and is currently coediting a special issue of Language and Cognition on “Multimodal Prosody”.
