John Field Universities of Reading and Cambridge, uk

Weak form decoding exercise

• Write down what you hear. [samples of authentic or naturalistic speech]
• I should have [ə] done.
• Just wait a [ə] moment.
• A box of [ə] cigars.
• The buses are [ə] late.
• I’m looking for a [frə] photo.
• I’m looking at a [ətə] key.
• I’m talking to [tə] the meeting.
• I’m talking at [ət] the meeting.

2. Model: Emulate expert processing

• L1 processes provide a model for the L2 instructor
• L1 processes provide a benchmark that enables us to understand better where L2 problems lie.
• Rationale: long exposure has enabled L1 listeners to adopt routines which are more effective and more highly automatic than those of L2 listeners.