293
Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching
Department of English Studies, Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts, Adam Mickiewicz University, Kalisz
SSLLT 8 (2). 2018. 293-323
doi: 10.14746/ssllt.2018.8.2.6
http://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/ssllt
Researching pronunciation learning strategies:
An overview and a critical look
Mirosław Pawlak
Adam Mickiewicz University, Kalisz, Poland
State
University of Applied Sciences, Konin, Poland
pawlakmi@amu.edu.pl
Magdalena Szyszka
Opole University, Poland
mszyszka@uni.opole.pl
Abstract
Disparate goals that learners might have in learning second or foreign lan-
guage pronunciation and the scant classroom time that can be dedicated to
teaching this target language subsystem dictate that learner
autonomy is of
vital importance in this case and adept use of pronunciation learning strate-
gies (PLS) can be viewed as key to the development of this attribute. Surpris-
ingly, research
on these strategies is scarce, mainly focusing on the identifica-
tion and classification of PLS, diverse instruments are
used for data collection
and the findings are inconclusive. The paper provides an overview of the avail-
able research on PLS with respect to their identification, learners’ preferences
concerning their use, factors mediating
the application of PLS, and the effects
of strategies-based instruction in this area. An attempt is also made to assess
research of this kind and to suggest how it could
be taken forward to provide
insights that would be of value to practitioners.
Keywords: pronunciation learning; pronunciation learning strategies; strate-
gies-based instruction