Prof Wonnacott is interested in understanding how adults and children learn second/foreign languages and how this relates to the input they receive. Much of her work explores this taking an experimental approach in which we conduct precisely controlled language learning experiments to explore how language input affects learning and generalisation. This work has looked at learning of speech sounds, vocabulary and grammatical structures (Giannakopoulou, Brown, Clayards & Wonnacott 2017; Sinkeviciute, Brown, Brekelmans, Wonnacott 2019; Brekelmans, Lavan, Clayards, & Wonnacott, E. 2022; Viviani & Ramscar & Wonnacott 2022).
Current work in the group explores how different types of input and instruction can boost learning of connected speech processes (Shuo Fang Liang), how video gaming might drive implicit language learning (Laura Dong) how different types of input and the order in which they are introduced can affect learning of consonants (Yaoyao Ruan) and L2 learning of Mandarin Classifiers (Zhengyuan Yang). Dr Johannes Schulz – co-supervised by Prof Victoria Murphy conducted a first study exploring how findings from earlier statistical learning experiments (Wonnacott, Boyd, Thomson & Goldberg 2012) can be implemented in interventions conducted in the “noisy” classroom.
Liz has also recently become interested in whether and how we can leverage new AI technology to support language learning. She is currently a consultant for Oxford Language Technologies and has contributed to the development of Omniloquent Language Primer, a new application for training foreign languages.
A new research program in collaboration with Dr Sara Ratner, Prof Victoria Murphy and Dr Robert Woore explores how AI technology can boost language learning in UK settings and address the decline in language teaching and learning in our schools.
Researchers in the Language Learning Lab:
Johannes Schulz
Shuo Fang Liang
Yaoyao Ruan
Zhengyuan Yang
Alumni:
Gwen Brekelmans
Hanyu Dong
Elizabeth Wonnacott
Helen Brown
