Analysis of Pre-service Chinese Language Teachers’ Perceptions on Chinese Tone Education

This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of pre-service Chinese language teachers’ perceptions of Chinese tone education and to propose practical solutions for the challenges they face in the educational field. The research subjects were 15 graduate students majoring in Chinese language education at H University in Seoul. Through the analysis of practice reports and Q&A sessions, this study explored their understanding and difficulties regarding tone education. The research methodology employed the Praat speech analysis tool to visually examine the physical characteristics of tones, such as pitch and duration, and to identify errors and areas requiring correction in tone pronunciation. The findings revealed that while pre-service teachers recognized the importance of tone education, they encountered issues such as insufficient use of speech analysis tools and overcorrection. These problems are identified as obstacles to effective tone education, and this study suggests that more refined teaching methods and practical tools be developed to overcome these challenges. This research can serve as foundational data to enhance pre-service teachers’ abilities in tone education and contribute to the overall improvement of Chinese pronunciation education.