The relationship among pre-task planning, working memory capacity, and L2 speech performance: a pilot study

Abstract

This article reports on a pilot study that investigated the relationship among pre-task planning (Skehan, 1996, 1998), working memory (WM) capacity, and L2 speech performance. Participants were 25 learners of English as a foreign language performing two tasks each. Results show that (1) planning leads to gains in fluency and accuracy but not complexity of L2 speech performance, (2) there are no significant correlations between WM capacity and L2 speech performance of the first narrative tasks for both control and experimental groups under no planning conditions, (3) there are significant correlations between WM capacity and L2 speech performance of the second narrative task of the experimental group (planning condition), and also between WM capacity and L2 speech performance of the second narrative task of the control group (no planning condition). Therefore, results are not conclusive and suggest a complex relationship between pre-task planning, WM capacity and L2 speech performance. Results are discussed in terms of Fortkamp’s (2000) view of L2 speech production as a controlled processing activity (Engle, Kane & Tuholsky, 1999).