Phonetic Chart Alphabet

  There are two issues that need to be stressed when working with the international phonemic alphabet. First is the fact that we are no longer concerned with how a word is traditionally spelled. Additionally we need to stress that we are only concerned with the sounds needed to correctly produce a word. So rather than numerous spellings, which can often be pronounced in different ways, we have one symbol representing one sound. Once we can isolate a sound, rather than juggling various spellings, we can work with our students on how to say that sound. Doing that successfully is related to manner and place of articulation, which will be covered shortly. To get a better understanding of the phonemic alphabet, let's take a look at our chart. In the bottom half of our chart we have our...  [Read more]

  In Chantelle’s thirteenth video diary entry she talks about unit 13 of her 120-hour online TEFL course. Unit 13 covers pronunciation and phonology. As Chantelle notes there is a lot of information presented in this unit including phonology, stress, articulation and the phonemic alphabet. The unit also looks at how to teach individual sounds and when we should teach pronunciation to our students. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. The...  [Read more]

Teaching pronunciation in TESOL is crucial as it enhances learners' communication skills, fluency, and overall comprehension. Pronunciation impacts how well learners are understood and how confident they feel when speaking English. Poor pronunciation can lead to miscommunication and hinder learners from effectively expressing themselves. Therefore, focusing on pronunciation helps students become more proficient speakers and listeners in English. There are several effective strategies for teaching pronunciation in TESOL. One common approach is the use of minimal pairs, where students practice distinguishing between similar sounds that may cause confusion, such as /l/ and /r/ for Japanese learners. Another strategy is teaching connected speech, emphasizing how sounds change when spoken in...  [Read more]

English pronunciation is crucial for effective communication in English. Poor pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings and hinder the ability to convey meaning clearly. Additionally, accurate pronunciation is essential for language learners to be understood by native speakers and to feel confident in their language skills. It is important to emphasize the significance of pronunciation from the beginning of language learning to ensure students develop good habits early on. There are several strategies that can help students improve their English pronunciation. First and foremost, practicing regularly is key to developing pronunciation skills. Students should engage in activities that focus on individual sounds, stress patterns, intonation, and rhythm. Another effective strategy is to use...  [Read more]