The influence of age on language acquisition and specifically pronunciation may make adults find pronunciation more difficult than children do and that they probably will not achieve native-like pronunciation. According to the “Critical Period Hypothesis” proposed by Lenneberg (1967) there is a biological or neurological period which ends around the age of 12; after this period it becomes extremely difficult to attain the complete mastery of a second language especially pronunciation. Conversely, Bialystock (1997), and Bongaerts, Planken and Schils (1997), among others have shown that adult learners are capable of achieving native-like in an L2. However, the degree of pronunciation accuracy, according to Avery and Ehrlich (1992), varies considerably from one individual to another. To them, this discrepancy in pronunciation among adult learners means that ESL classroom time can profitably be devoted to improving students’ pronunciation.
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