The moderating role of auditory processing ability in tone perception training efficacy for CFL learners

Individual differences in auditory processing abilities significantly influence Mandarin tone perception in non-native learners. This study investigated how melody reproduction and pitch discrimination abilities modulate tone perception training efficacy among CFL learners. Seventeen Thai-native speakers completed a tone perception training program with pre- and post-training assessments employing a monosyllabic tone identification task. Mixed-effects logistic regression models analyzed the effects of tone type, test phase, and auditory processing abilities on identification accuracy. Training yielded significant overall improvement in tone identification performance, with improvement patterns varying systematically by auditory processing profile. Learners with high melody reproduction ability showed robust gains on Tone 2, while those with high pitch discrimination ability also improved notably on Tone 2. Conversely, learners with low pitch discrimination ability demonstrated greater improvement on Tone 3. More challenging tones showed larger training effects, especially among learners with low pitch discrimination or high melody reproduction ability. These findings reveal that auditory processing abilities jointly regulate tone learning progress through distinct mechanisms, producing different improvement patterns across learner groups. The results support individualized tone training approaches that account for learners’ specific auditory processing strengths and limitations.