Dr Gabriela Valenzuela presents her research at the BAAL 2026 Annual Conference

Dr Valenzuela presented research at a leading international applied linguistics conference, exploring how adult learners develop English pronunciation and the role of spoken interaction.

One of the leading international conferences in applied linguistics, bringing together researchers, educators, and practitioners from around the world, the conference featured hundreds of presentations, workshops, posters, and colloquia, creating a vibrant forum for the exchange of ideas and cutting-edge research.  

Gabriela presented findings from a longitudinal study examining how adult second-language (L2) learners develop English vowel contrasts over time. The research highlighted the dynamic nature of second-language speech learning and explored the important role that meaningful spoken interaction may play in supporting pronunciation development.

The presentation prompted engaging discussions about language learning in immersion contexts and contributed to wider conversations on second-language acquisition, pronunciation teaching and learners' experiences beyond the classroom.

By sharing this research with an international audience, Gabriela contributed to ongoing efforts to deepen understanding of how adults learn and develop spoken language skills in a second language.

Find out more about the Centre for Language and Education Research in the School of Education and its impact on language learning and teaching.