The Role of Mimicking Native Speakers in Enhancing Students’ Accent and Pronunciation

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the role of mimicry as an effective pedagogical technique and makes contribution to the study of mimicking Native speakers among EFL learners as a good way to raise up the level of their foreign accent and pronunciation. To support this aim and support the research hypothesis, both a questionnaire and an interview were administered to third year English LMD students with sixty (60) students as a whole population. Underpinned by a theoretical framework to make a deep echo on the pedagogical system, the theoretical part of this study encompasses both accent and pronunciation as major features that learners usually seek to achieve when acquiring a new language. It also provides extra information about mimicry and its important and impactful role in acquiring a native-like accent and pronunciation. Besides, it presents an overview of the teaching and learning theories along with the modern methods that promote and support mimicry such as Linguistic Mimicry Approach. The participants' answers are analyzed and presented in tables. After the discussion of the findings, the results obtained show that mimicry is worthy used by the majority of EFL students and that they seek to acquire a native-like accent. Therefore, the research hypothesis which stresses that, if students have an opportunity to mimic native speakers, their foreign accent and pronunciation will get more native, is positively confirmed. Accordingly, some pedagogical recommendations are suggested. So, mimicry can be one of the most efficient ways that helps learners enhance their foreign accent and pronunciation.