Studies in Phonological Acquisition by L2 learners of Japanese and Teaching Pronunciation in Japanese Language Education

Abstract

In this paper, I will introduce recent research findings pertaining to phonological acquisition by L2 learners of Japanese, and discuss the application of these findings to teaching Japanese pronunciation.

The results of three studies show that: 1) Japanese learners realize that their pronunciation problems would cause miscommunication; 2) adult learners of Japanese can attain native-level pronunciation; and 3) good learners have achieved the ultimate level in Japanese pronunciation because of their attitude towards learning pronunciation, their study methods and the amount of input.

Following these research findings, it is suggested that we facilitate autonomous learning by establishing learning environments inside/outside the classroom. This allows learners to practice pronunciation and provides them with learning opportunities. Three examples are presented: 1) DVD for shadowing practice, 2) on-demand Japanese pronunciation course, and 3) software for practicing Japanese pronunciation.