Pronunciation Basics

Introduction
 
Teaching features of pronunciation not only allows learners to be more intelligible, it also helps them to understand other people. It is something that is often neglected because teachers aren't confident enough or don't think it's as important as other aspects of learning a language.
  In my institution, all learners have to complete a needs analysis on their first day. The majority of learners say that they would like to improve their pronunciation. However, during a round of observations, the one thing I noticed was that there was a complete absence of pronunciation work being dealt with in class.
  It's such a shame. Why deprive your learners of something that will really boost their confidence when they speak and help them understand other people in the "real world"? What's more, it can be so much fun!


When should I teach pronunciation?

Pronunciation is in everything we teach. We don't need to decide, "right, today is going to be a pronunciation lesson!" It should be a part of everything we do in class. Of course we can have a pronunciation practise lesson, but it should also be integrated into everything we do.
 
1.  When introducing new vocabulary, we can:

• mark the stress patterns in the word
• write the word in phonemic script
• look at how we pronounce the word when we connect it to other words

It's said that you don't really know a word until you know the meaning, how to use it in a sentence and how to pronounce it.

2. When teaching and practising grammar, we can:

• decide what type of intonation is needed, e.g. fall, rise
• mark the stress in the sentence or question
• highlight strong and weak forms
• highlight features of connected speech

3. When getting feedback from an activity or exercise, we can make sure that the learners are not only giving us the correct answers, but also pronounce the answer correctly. Because we're teachers and we're used to hearing the same pronunciation slips, we let them go. We have to try and think, will this person be understood in the "real world"? If a learner gives us an answer, but doesn't pronounce it correctly, is it really correct?

4. When we do listening exercises, we can incorporate pronunciation exercises. Instead of giving students the same type of comprehension questions that regularly appear in course books, we can adapt the exercises to improve their pronunciation receptive skills. So, for example, highlight patterns of intonation and what is the speaker inferring by the intonation they use? Have different sentences and the learners have to decide which sentences they hear. This aids them in the development of their ability to distinguish between different sounds and recognise patterns of connected speech.

 
Segmental features - The sounds

Sounds are divided into 3 main section:

1. Single vowels or monophthongs (Subdivided into short and long vowels)
2. Double vowels or diphthongs
3. Consonant sounds

Why should I use the Phonemic Chart?

The phonemic chart is a fantastic tool for both teachers and learners. Just some of its advantages are:

• Helps record new vocabulary more effectively
• More effective use of the dictionary .
• Provides a visual aid for learners.
• Aids in the identification of individual problems.
• Helps teach other aspects of pronunciation, especially connected speech.
• Helps learners become more autonomous.

 Watch this video of Adrian Underhill introducing the phonemic chart.

 Click here for an interactive copy of the chart.

Suprasegmental features

Word Stress
 
Sentence Stress
 
Intonation

Connected Speech
 
Rhythm


Go on, YOU can do it!

If you're new to teaching pronunciation and are a little nervous, start by reading about one thing and try to introduce it into your lessons. Then move on to the next and then the next. Take it step by step. You'll find that you'll learn as you go along, you might even discover new things in class while you're teaching. There is so much to discover about it. It's truly wonderful and it's natural. Don't be afraid! Take it one step at a time and before you know it, it will become a regular feature of your teaching.