Explicit pronunciation instruction has been shown to be effective in improving language learners' pronunciation, yet it is not clear whether the same can be said about implicit pronunciation instruction. In addition, the role of orthography in improving language learners' pronunciation is yet to be fully understood. Thus, this research examined…

Pronouncing English clusters may be challenging for Arab English learners. Technology-based strategies can be used to improve their pronunciation of English consonant clusters. This study examined how high variability phonetic training (HVPT) can be used to improve the pronunciation of consonant clusters among English as a foreign language (EFL)…

Due to the lack of a pronunciation curriculum and materials in Saudi universities, EFL students individually select use different resources to help with their English pronunciation difficulties. Therefore, this study aims to describe: (a) Saudi students' perspectives and attitudes toward pronunciation resources that may help with their…

The aim of this paper is to expose the potential difficulties encountered by students learning Arabic as a foreign language (AFL) with a focus on sounds production. The research design was descriptive-analytic. The data was obtained using direct recording and interviews. The sample included 27 AFL students at the Arabic Institutes at IMSIU and…

This study investigates the simplifications used with English consonant clusters by EFL learners of Saudi Najdi Arabic dialect (a dialect spoken in the central region of Saudi Arabia). More particularly, it focused on the Saudi Najdi speakers when they pronounce English final three-consonant clusters such as /lps/ as in "helps." The…

This study aimed to investigate the sources of reading anxiety among undergraduate female EFL students in KSA. The study compared the sources of reading anxiety between EFL students in the English Department and EFL students who study French as a foreign language. Also, the study compared between the students in terms of year of study (level 1,…

The present study examined students' perception of using Artificial intelligence-powered text-to-speech apps (AI TTS Apps) to learn aspects of English language pronunciation. This investigation was conducted considering the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). To ensure participants had prior experience using AI…

This study explores the pronunciation difficulties experienced by Saudi EFL learners at Jouf University (JU) in the north of Saudi Arabia. To achieve this purpose, two main instruments were implemented: an experiment of pronunciation sensitivity response and two interview formats. The sample of this study was selected randomly and consisted of…

Purpose: Grit is a novel, rather an important psychological variable that has been associated with performance in the English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) context. However, there is a dearth of research on the relationship of grit and pronunciation performance among EFL learners. Consequently, the current study sought to establish the…

Accent recognition refers to the problem of inferring the native language of a speaker from his foreign-accented speech. Differences in accent are due to both articulation and prosodic characteristics. The automatic identification of foreign accents is valuable for different speech systems, such as speech recognition, speaker identification or…

English is an international language with diverse varieties around the world that are referred to as Global Englishes (GE). Numerous studies demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of integrating GE-informed materials in English Language Teaching (ELT) practices but in the context of the Gulf countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia, such…

This study investigates acoustically one of long-term debated phonetic characteristics, the so-called Arabic voiced pharyngeal fricative /[voiced pharyngeal fricative]/. Most recent studies have found the Arabic pharyngeal to be approximant, while others have categorized it as a stop in careful speech, and still others have suggested it is a…

Covert contrast is the statistically reliable distinction between target language phonemes produced in the process of language acquisition that is nevertheless not perceived by a native speaker of that language. This paper examines the acquisition of contrasts in four Najdi Arabic fricatives, /s/, /[voiceless palato-alveolar fricative]/,…

Arabs often mispronounce many sounds of English due to a lack of exposure to English as a foreign language. This research article focuses on pronunciation problems encountered by Arab undergraduate EFL learners. It uses questionnaires, recorded speech samples, and pronunciation tests as part of its methodology to analyze learners' performance…

This study attempts to investigate difficulties in pronouncing English morphemes among Saudi EFL students at Albaha University, in Saudi Arabia. The researcher tries to answer different questions in this study. Do students pronounce English morphemes correctly? Do they pronounce correct morpheme adds to verb present? Do students pronounce the…