To begin taking the POSE test, click on the "Take the POSE Test" button below.
Please note that the POSE Test is still in the development stages and while the main concepts and content of the POSE Test may not change dramatically, it is constantly being evaluated and revised where necessary. Any feedback or comments you wish to contribute will be invaluable in helping make the POSE Test a better instrument. We appreciate your input. To give feedback or comments, please visit our contact page.
Why focus on speech perception in pronuncation training?
There are several reasons why teachers and learners of English should focus on speech perception in pronunciation training:
1. Speech perception plays an important role in the acquisition of pronunciation, as shown by Chan (2001), Flege and Eefting (1987), Ingram and Park (1997), Schneiderman, Bourdages, and Champagne (1988).
2. Speech perception skills can be improved through training, as shown by Pennington (1998), Cenoz and Lecumberri (1999), Flege (1995), and Underbakke (1993).
3. Research suggests that training in perception may help improve production, as well as perception, of certain sounds and intonation patterns.
4. Speech perception plays an important role in self-monitoring. Self-monitoring has been deemed important by researchers (Acton, 1984; Morley, 1991) in successful language learning experiences.
For more information, see the complete literature review.
How is the Perception of Spoken English (POSE) Test different?
The Perception of Spoken English (POSE) Test focuses on five major aspects of spoken English:
1. vowels
2. consonants
3. word stress
4. intonation (sentence-final)
5. sentence stress
Most materials available for diagnosing speech perception problems focus either on segmentals (vowels and consonants), or suprasegmentals (word stress, intonation, and/or sentence stress) only. The POSE test is different because it focuses on both segmentals and suprasegmentals.
The POSE test also includes at least 2 items (and in most cases 4 items) for each vowel or consonant sound, and intonation or stress pattern. This is more than other existing speech perception tests. While this increases the amount of time needed to complete each section of the test, it provides a more accurate diagnosis of problem areas than test with only 1 or 2 items in each aspect.
Finally, the POSE test is computer based and delivered via the Internet. This allows many more people to access it easily. It also requires less time on the part of the teacher to administer and score the test. The items are presented in a randomized order, so it is possible for a single student to take the test several times without repeating items in the same order and thus the POSE test can be used to check progress in problem areas, as well as diagnosing those problem areas initially.