Social Factors and the Teaching of Pronunciation: What the Research Tells Us

Abstract

The current article presents a state-of-the-art review of research on the social factors that have been found to impact how learners acquire and use a second language (L2) sound system. These factors include ethnic group identification, gender, and study abroad experience. The research synthesis presents the key findings on each social factor, with examples drawn from the cited research for illustration. The article then presents recommendations for pedagogical practice. These recommendations are aimed at both teachers and learners, and for use both outside and inside the L2 classroom; they include examples and links to free online resources that both teachers and learners can use to enhance meaningful L2 pronunciation teaching and learning.