Adult Second Language Acquisition Through Choir Singing: affecting Proficiency and Processing

The study aims to investigate the potential of choir singing to enhance second language (L2) acquisition in healthy young adults (age 18-35). 90 participants (45 females) will be recruited to the study and allocated to three groups (n = 30 per group) to explore the effects of six months choir singing on L2 phonological awareness (PA), as measured by Event-Related Potentials (ERPs). Cognitive responses to phonological awareness as measured with rhyming tasks and ERP effects will be assessed before and after the intervention of weekly choir singing. These responses will be compared to that of two other groups; one active control, where participants will listen to audiobooks (in L2), and a no-intervention group. For all groups, ERPs will be recorded during a rhyming task to examine the neural correlates of phonological processing (the ERP rhyming effect, N450), while standardized measures of PA will provide behavioral indicators of development of L2 proficiency. Statistical analyses, including repeated measures ANOVA, will be used to evaluate changes in the ERP rhyming effects and PA tests following the intervention period. Findings from this study aim to contribute to our understanding of the potential cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying possible beneficial effects of music-based interventions, such as regular choir singing on L2 acquisition, with implications for educational practices and interventions targeting language learning in healthy adult populations.