awej 5 no.4 full issue 2014

AWEJ Volume.5 Number.3, 2014Students‟ Ability to Identify Different Tones and the Tonic SyllableMohamedF. % F. % F. % F. %Fall 25 27.2 60 65.2 15 16.3 48 52.2Rise 27 29.3 19 20.7 48 52.2 32 34.8Fallrise40 43.5 13 14.129 31.5 12 13.0Total 92 100. 92 100. 92 100. 92 100.The correct tone for the sentences 5 th “You didn‟t say anything about rates.”, and 6 th “Isthere anything you wouldn‟t eat?” is rise 29.3%, 20.7% respectively of students got it right in the„Pre‟. The performance of the students improved a lot that is in the „Post‟ 52.2%, and 34.8%respectively got it right. This reflects that many of them got a better understanding of this tone.For the 5 th sentence the tone with the second higher percentage which students have mistaken itwith is fall-rise with 43.5% in the „Pre‟ and 31.5% in the post. For the 6 th sentence more studentsmistaken it with fall, the percentage is even higher than rise with 65.2% in the „Pre‟ and 52.2%in the post. This shows that many students are still having difficulty in identifying it.Table.8 Identifying the tone “Rise” in the sentences: 7 th “Have you ever considered writing?”8 th “It wouldn’t be difficult to find out.”Tones Pre- Post-7 th 8 th 7 th 8 thF. % F. %Fall 44 47.8 37 40.2 42 45.7 27 29.3Rise 24 26.1 36 39.1 33 35.9 37 40.2Fall-rise 24 26.1 18 19.6 17 18.5 29 31.5Total 92 100.0 92 100.0 92 100. 92 100.0The correct tone for the sentences 7 th “Have you ever considered writing?”, and 8 th “Itwouldn‟t be difficult to find out.” is rise 26.1%, 39.1% respectively of students got it right in the„Pre‟. The performance of the students improved, that is in the „Post‟ 35.9%, 40.2% respectivelygot it right, this reflects that few of them got a better understanding of this tone. However, thetone which students have mistaken it with is fall, with 47.8%, 40.2% respectively in the „Pre‟ and45.7%, 29.3% respectively in the post. This shows the percentage of the students who got itwrong even after being taught intonation is still high.Arab World English JournalISSN: 2229-9327www.awej.org305