An Investigation on EFL Learners ‘Fluency Awareness Through the Use of Intonation

Abstract

The dissertation in hand examines the use of intonation as a basic phonetic component of speech. That is, the foremost target behind conducting this study is to consider the value of intonation to develop EFL learners’ fluency awareness. Hence, the current study hypothesizes that intonation will enhance learners’ fluency awareness if it is well taught and practiced. The present dissertation comprises three chapters; two are theoretical ones and the last one is practical in nature. Theoretical issues connected with the use of intonation in enhancing learners’ fluency awareness are covered in chapter one and two. The practical side is designed to achieve the aim of the research. Thus, the current study is descriptive in nature since it attempts to elicit information about the connection between fluency and intonation awareness. Being so, and since descriptive design is the adopted one in conducting this study qualitative data collection is relied on through the use of a questionnaire handed to 150 third year License- Master- Doctorate students out of 270 studying at the English language department of Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia University. The second qualitative data collection tool is a semi-structured interview addressed to four teachers of English phonetics and phonology module. The findings of study demonstrate that there is a positive relationship between fluency awareness and intonation since fluency can be developed through the use and hold practice of intonation. Moreover, both the involved teachers and students have positive attitudes towards enhancing EFL learners’ fluency through raising their awareness about intonation components. On the light of the yielded findings, some pedagogical recommendation and suggestions for future research are suggested.