Developing Intonation Through Gestures in Early English Language Teaching

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/acoj.241521

Keywords:

English intonation, gestures, very young learners, Vietnamese

Abstract

Existing research has proved the strong link between gestures and speech both in the first language (L1) and the second language (L2) acquisition. Despite the significant benefits of incorporating gestures into language instruction, there remains a gap in research concerning their impact on very young learners, especially in non-Western settings like Vietnam. The current study investigates the effects of using gestures to teach English intonation to very young learners. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, and it recruited 49 participants aged 4 to 6 years at a language center. The two intact classes were randomly assigned as the control and experimental groups. The learners in the experimental group were taught intonation patterns of some English sentence types, such as YES/NO questions, WH questions, and statements through gestures, while traditional instructions without any gestures were applied in the control group. Two primary tools were utilized for data collection: intonation tests and observations. The findings demonstrated that learners who received gesture-based teaching significantly showed improvements in their intonation. Additionally, these learners showed more engagement and active participation in class. These results highlight the benefits of using gestures in teaching English intonation, especially in early English language teaching in Vietnam.

Author Biographies

Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Ngan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam

Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Ngan is a graduate student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam. Email: ngannguyen03031@gmail.com

Luu Thi Mai Vy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam

Luu Thi Mai Vy is a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam. Her research interests include L2 listening development, pronunciation, theories in language and teaching. Email: vyltm@uef.edu.vn.

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Published

07-08-2024

How to Cite

Nguyen, N. T. N., & Luu, T. M. V. (2024). Developing Intonation Through Gestures in Early English Language Teaching. AsiaCALL Online Journal, 15(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.54855/acoj.241521