Study Title: Improving Self-Assessment of L2 Pronunciation: Leveraging Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR).

Researcher: Carey Nelson (PhD student in Applied Linguistics)

Researcher’s Contact Information: carey.nelson@concordia.ca

Faculty Supervisors: Dr. Walcir Cardoso Applied Linguistics/Education, Dr. Heike Neumann, Applied Linguistics/Education

Faculty Supervisor’s Contact Information: Dr. Walcir Cardoso: walcir.cardoso@concordia.ca; 514-848-2424 x2451;Dr. Heike Neumann: heike.neumann@concordia.ca: 514-848-2424 x2443:

Source of funding for the study: None

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You are being invited to participate in the research study mentioned above. This form provides information about what participating would mean. Please read it carefully before deciding if you want to participate or not. If there is anything you do not understand, or if you want more information, please ask the researcher.

A. PURPOSE: The purpose of the research is to investigate English Second Language user ability to self-assess pronunciation while using automatic speech recognition (ASR).

B. PROCEDURES: If you participate, you will be asked to complete the following tasks remotely (times are approximate):

• Complete a questionnaire on self-assessment of pronunciation skills (15 min), perform an practice ASR dictation task of seven sentences followed by reading aloud seven sentences (15 min), which will be recorded (5 min), read aloud seven other sentences for practice purposes, followed by reading aloud seven sentences (15 min), which will be recorded (15 min), and filling out the questionnaire on self-assessment again.

The practice and read aloud tasks will be recorded (audio only).

In total, participating in this study will involve over an hour of completing the tasks online for 1-2 hours in total.

C. RISKS AND BENEFITS:There are no known risks associated with participating in this research. One benefit could be that you will learn about a tool that could help your ability to self-assess your pronunciation. As well, I am a trained ESL teacher and can provide feedback on your pronunciation if you wish.

I have read the information and I want to continue to the second part.

Study Title: Improving Self-Assessment of L2 Pronunciation: Leveraging Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR).

D. CONFIDENTIALITY: We will gather the following information as part of this research:

• We will collect your anonymous demographic information as well as self-assessment questionnaires. We will also collect the audio of you reading sentences aloud.
• We will not allow anyone to access the information, except people directly involved in the research. We will only use the information for the purposes of the research described in this form.
• The information gathered will be coded and interviews will be transcribed. It is not necessary to give your name, which means there will not be any reference to you anywhere in the written study. No-one else will have access to your information.
• We will protect the information by keeping all digital files on a password protected computer.
• We intend to publish the results of the research. However, it will not be possible to identify you in the published results.
• We will destroy the information three years after the end of the study.

E. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

• You do not have to participate in this research. It is purely your decision. If you do participate, you can stop at any time. You can also ask that the information you provided not be used, and your choice will be respected. If you decide that you don’t want us to use your information, you must tell the researcher before February 28, 2025.
• As a compensatory indemnity for participating in this research, you will be entered into a draw for one of five gift cards of $20. If you withdraw before the end of the research, your name will remain in the draw.
• There are no negative consequences for not participating, stopping in the middle, or asking us not to use your information.

F. PARTICIPANT’S DECLARATION: I have read and understood this form. I have had the chance to ask questions and any questions have been answered. I agree to participate in this research under the conditions described.

If you have questions about the scientific or scholarly aspects of this research, please contact the researcher. Their contact information is at the beginning. You may also contact their faculty supervisor (Dr. Walcir Cardoso: walcir.cardoso@concoria.ca) or Dr. Heike Neumann (heike.neumann@concordia.ca).

If you have concerns about ethical issues in this research, please contact the Manager, Research Ethics, Concordia University, 514.848.2424 ex. 7481 or oor.ethics@concordia.ca.

I have read the information and I accept that my anonymous test responses may be used for research purposes

This part has two sections. First, you will answer some demographic questions that will help with this study. Then you will complete the Self Assessment of Pronunciation Skills (SAPS). It won't take you longer than 10 minutes.

You must be at least 18 years old to participate in this study!

You have completed the section on demographics. You will now answer questions on your English pronunciation. Take time to think about each question and select the answer that best represents your ability.

This is a practice question. Move the slider to the number that is appropriate to your situation. For example, choose "1" if you never practice English, or choose "9" if you practice very day.