La voyelle nasale [ɔ̃] en FLE: erreurs et stratégies de remédiation

Abstract

This study explores the challenges faced by Spanish-speaking learners of French as a foreign language (FLE) in perceiving the nasal vowel [ɔ̃] and suggests remediation strategies. To evaluate this skill, a case study using a free categorization test was conducted with high school students, divided into an experimental group and a control group. Initially, the average performance was 46%, indicating limited perception. This initial low performance highlights difficulties in distinguishing words that only differ by nasalization. In this context, specific phonetic training was administered. Following this intervention, a significant increase to 75% in average performance was noted. The results show that the position of [ɔ̃] in words influences perception, with better recognition when the vowel is in the final position. The results also reveal a divergence in performances between the experimental and control groups, with the former showing pronounced improvement. The conclusion underscores the positive impact of phonetic training on the perception of [ɔ̃]. However, variations in the results suggest a need for additional research to understand the underlying mechanisms. The study advocates a revision of pedagogical methods, incorporating intensive phonetic training for enhanced mastery of French phonetic nuances. These findings pave the way for improving pedagogical strategies and encourage deeper research to refine educational interventions for Spanish-speaking FLE learners.