Before we can speak a language we must learn how to make its peculiar sounds, like rolling the double r. Pronunciation is muscular. And English pronunciation is daunting to most ESL students.
But learning the basics of English pronunciation helps students learn not only how to speak better but also how to read, write and listen better.
Unfortunately in many classes pronunciation is not included in classroom instruction, apparently due to the fact that English pronunciation is difficult.
But - all the more reason to include it at the beginning of the first year of English.
The best way to teach pronunciation is to focus on phonetics, and it should be done in stages working on the most important sounds at first, such as the G/J, the short i, the short u, V, Th...etc.
Once a foundation is established, learning the other sounds becomes easier.
A sense of humor helps a lot, and repetition daily is needed.
Remember - learning to pronounce a foreign language is muscular - just like learning how to dance, drive a car, etc. and the muscles of the jaw, tongue, throat need training.
Reading out loud helps not only with pronunciation but with memory.
Students need to pronounce the word slowly, in syllables and repeat ten times..faster and faster.
Once these basic sounds are learned so that the students can reproduce them well, then it is easier to teach or learn English and fluency can be achieved more easily.
It is not necessary to teach the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) because it takes too long and is boring. Just try to write the words two ways, as it is spelled and as it is pronounced:
Table - teibahl - mesa
Students should learn the most important sounds first.
I have been teaching people how to pronounce and speak English for many years - so now I am an “expert”. To see more about my pronunciation lessons, go to my free websites-
inglesconprofepablo.com and to pumarosa.com, especially lesson 15.
Pumarosa.com
Inglesconprofepablo.com
