The Effect of L2 Minimal Pairs Practice on Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ Pronunciation Accuracy

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether L2 minimal pairs practice would have an effect on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ pronunciation accuracy. For this purpose, 30 Iranian intermediate EFL learners at Simin institute participated in the experiment of the study. The selection of subjects was done from among 150 EFL learners at intermediate level. In order to make subjects homogenized an SPT was used, then they divided into two groups of 15 who were assigned to experimental and control group randomly. A pre-test of pronunciation accuracy was administered to both groups, then the experimental group received 5 sessions of teaching L2 pronunciation as well as minimal pairs practice (MPP) while the control group received a placebo, in other words, teaching L2 pronunciation via the existing method. After the treatment again the same test was administered as posttest to both groups of the study. The data obtained from the tests were analyzed via independent samples T-test between the posttest scores of experimental and control group to see whether there is a difference between performance of the groups and the paired-sample T-tests was used between the pretest and the posttest of each group to show the progress. The results revealed that Iranian EFL learners in the experimental group performed better and received higher score in pronunciation test after 5 session of treatment.