Ron Thomson

Dr. Ron Thomson is a Professor and Department Chair in Applied Linguistics at Brock University, Canada. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Alberta (2007), an MEd in TESL (2001), and a BA in Political Science (1995). His research focuses on second language (L2) pronunciation, speech perception/production, and the role of technology in language learning. He is the developer of the English Accent Coach, a widely used web-based tool for L2 pronunciation training.

Dr. Thomson has served as Acting Graduate Program Director at Brock and previously held leadership roles in TESL Canada, including Elected Director (2005–2017) and President (2014–2015). He contributes to the field through editorial roles in journals like the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation and Canadian Modern Language Review.

His research interests include L2 vowel perception, the impact of first-language background on L2 learning, and the ethical considerations of L2 pronunciation instruction. Recent work emphasizes high variability phonetic training (HVPT), a methodology he advocates for improving L2 speech perception and production. He teaches courses on phonetics, phonology, and TESL methodologies.