Online Informal Learning of English: what influences does watching television series have on the English pronunciation of French learners?

The Online Informal Learning of English (OILE) has been shown to have many advantages for the language acquisition of English language learners, from vocabulary and grammar development to effects on identity and learning strategies. Nonetheless, despite Stuart-Smith & Ota's (2014) study, demonstrating the impact of media on the phonetic and phonological development of native-speakers, to date no studies have undertaken an examination of such influences on L2 learners. This study has thus carried out an examination of possible television series influences on the English pronunciation of French learners with extensive OILE practices, by targeting production of sounds differentiating Received Pronunciation from General American (for example rhoticity or taps). Twenty (20) university students participated in a pronunciation test and completed a questionnaire. Results indicate that television series are the most influential activities among those that promote vocal imitation and allow phonetic-phonological appropriation. Acoustic analyses reveal productions composed of mixed characteristics of the accents under study, along with those of the French language. They demonstrate both inter- and intra-individual variability, which would be consistent with the inherent complexity of L2 development. Cross-referencing of the questionnaire data with the results of the acoustic analyses has allowed inferences to be drawn regarding possible influences on pronunciation. As formal coursework is mostly ensured by teachers with British or near-British accents, as the participants have little if any interaction with native American-English speakers and listen to little music in English, watching American series would seem to be the one factor influencing the adoption of several markers of General American in the English they produce.