The Effect of Using Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Perception of EFL Vowels

Authors

  • Faisal Aljasser

    Department of English Language and Literature, College of Languages and Humanities, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i2.8001
Received: 6 December 2024 | Revised: 19 December 2024 | Accepted: 20 December 2024 | Published Online: 16 January 2025

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rtMRI) videos as an innovative tool for enhancing learners' perception of English vowel sounds among Arabic-speaking learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Utilizing a pretest-intervention-posttest design, the study involved forty participants who were equally divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received targeted perception-based instruction that incorporated rtMRI videos, delivered in three weekly sessions of thirty minutes each. In contrast, the control group underwent a similar instructional approach but without the use of rtMRI technology. To assess learners' progress, two tests were administered during both the pretest and posttest phases. The first test focused on the subjects' ability to associate vowel sounds with their corresponding articulatory features, while the second test evaluated their overall perception of vowel sounds. Analysis of the post-test results revealed significant improvements in the vowel-feature association test exclusively for the experimental group. Implications of these findings are discussed.

 

Keywords:

EFL Vowels; Perception; Pronunciation; rtMRI; Visual Cues

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How to Cite

Aljasser, F. (2025). The Effect of Using Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Perception of EFL Vowels. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i2.8001

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 2 (February 2025): In Progress

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