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Phonetics/Phonology: Why Teaching this Neglected Aspect of Language is Important - TEFL Blog
Wed, 27 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Phonetics/Phonology: Why Teaching this Neglected Aspect of Language is Important
I chose this topic for my essay because it is not something I had ever given much thought to. As a native speaker, I don't recall studying correct pronunciation in school along with other aspects of language learning such as grammar and vocabulary. Correct, or at least acceptable and understandable, the pronunciation was something that just happened.
Table of Contents
Why is Teaching Phonetics Important?
What is the Best Way to Teach Phonetics?
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I was initially somewhat surprised when I saw that an entire online module had been devoted to the topic, but as I read the module,... [Read more]
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D.B. - China said:
Phonetics PhonologyPhonetics and phonology are both branches of linguistics which deal with the sounds of language. The main difference is that phonetics is concerned with the physical properties of the sounds produced in language, whereas phonology is concerned with the theory and grammar behind the sounds the sounds produced in language.
Phonetics can further be broken down into three subfields: articulatory phonetics, which deals with the manner of... [Read more]
Tefl reviews - Pronunciation And Phonology/phonetic Alphabet - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Pronunciation and Phonology in the EFL Classroom - International Phonetic Alphabet
A better way to go about imparting how to make sounds or what sounds are utilized in a word, is this international phonemic alphabet. Now we have as mentioned one symbol being used in all the words which share that same sound. Now once we get a little bit more familiar with our phonemic alphabet we can also show how different our different sounds can be as in this symbol for ?ooh?, this symbol for ?ow? and this symbol for ?uh?.
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... [Read more]
Tefl reviews - Pronunciation And Phonology/phonetic Alphabet Issues - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Pronunciation and Phonology in the EFL Classroom - Issues with the International Phonetic 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... [Read more]
Phonological Awareness for Developing Language Abilities - TEFL Blog
Thu, 13 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Phonological Awareness for Developing Language Abilities
Phonology involves studying how sounds are organized in a language to create meaning. It differs in every language as sounds are organized to create words, which are then organized in sentences.
Table of Contents
Understanding both phonology and phonetics is important when teaching language to others.
The English IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) utilizes symbols to represent single sounds.
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jane M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the... [Read more]
Tefl reviews - Pronunciation And Phonology/phonemes - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Pronunciation and Phonology in the EFL Classroom - Phonemes
In this video we'll be looking at the international phonemic alphabet and how it's used in the classroom. There are other phonemic alphabets but this is the most popular and the system, which is most widely used. You may have seen some of these symbols before as any good dictionary will supplement standard English spellings with the phonemic spellings to aid in pronunciation practice. Here we have a situation where we have what are called phonemes and each phoneme represents a sound within the English language. How is this helpful? Well, what it does is help students understand how to say words rather than simply relying on the often archaic English spellings. To illustrate this point let's for a moment put ourselves in... [Read more]
Teaching English Pronunciation to Students from Japan - TEFL Blog
Wed, 05 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Teaching English Pronunciation to Students from Japan
In my experience teaching elementary and junior high school level English in Japan, several different pronunciation problems appear frequently. The Japanese phonemic inventory is smaller than English's phonemic inventory, and the sounds present in each language differ from each other quite dramatically. Because of this, it can be difficult for native Japanese speakers to learn and master English pronunciation, but there are a few teaching techniques that can help students overcome this difficulty.
Table of Contents
Consonants Challenge
Non-Existent Sounds in the Native Language
Vowel Challenge
3 Methods to Work on Problems
1. Visual Representation
2. IPA Phonetics
3. Pronunciation... [Read more]
Top Reasons Why Rules of Pronunciation are Extremely Important for Teachers - TEFL Blog
Fri, 24 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Top Reasons Why Rules of Pronunciation are Extremely Important for Teachers
Many ESL teachers have never even heard of phonetics or phonology, yet they use these aspects of speech naturally when they speak. Phonetics and phonology are two areas of linguistics that study the sounds of language. Phonetics focuses on individual sounds, while phonology studies the features and combination of sounds (McMahon, 1-3). There are two reasons why ESL teachers need to know phonetics and phonology: first, it helps them to conceptualize English in a way that their students can understand; and second, it helps them to address their students' difficult pronunciation problems.
Table of Contents
Why Students Suffer from Pronunciation Issues?
Lack... [Read more]
Mastering English Language Sounds: Enhancing Pronunciation and Auditory Receptive Skills - TEFL Blog
Thu, 24 Aug 2023 Federico Riva
TEFL Information Alumni Experiences
Mastering English Language Sounds: Enhancing Pronunciation and Auditory Receptive Skills
Explore the challenges and strategies in teaching English language sounds and pronunciation across different age groups.It's widely known that students of various age groups exhibit varying learning capacities. Despite these differences and regardless of background or origin, learners of English (referred to as L2) often struggle with speaking and listening due to the language's heavy reliance on auditory comprehension. This article delves into the importance of addressing these pronunciation challenges, especially in the context of teaching English as a second language.
Table of Contents
Understanding Age-Related Differences... [Read more]
College Inclass TEFL - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
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A.P. - South Africa said:
Phonetics Phonology Phonology has to do with the how a language sound, where as phonetics as part of phonology focuses on the production, perception and physical nature of how people produce speech sounds.
Directly or indirectly the role of phonetics and phonology should play a profound role in TEFL. Teachers need to know how words are pronounced and knowing how words are formed is of great help in teaching English as a foreign language to students.... [Read more]
An Overview of Common Challenges of ESL Students from Japan - TEFL Blog
Mon, 04 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
An Overview of Common Challenges of ESL Students from Japan
Japan is a nation that has tried to increase its citizens' English ability, especially with the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games being held in their country. However, progress has been slow and not fruitful. There are various reasons for this slow stagnation of the nation's English abilities such as the larger academic system and access to proper education in rural areas. However, I will focus on three main hurdles that Japanese learners of English must face that can impede their English education.
Table of Contents
Japanese vs. English
Phonetics
Alphabet
Japanese English Class
Style Problems
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This... [Read more]
The Most Problematic Challenges for English Learning in Japan - TEFL Blog
Tue, 08 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
The Most Problematic Challenges for English Learning in Japan
Japan is a Pacific Island nation whose history is marked by periods of nationalism and seclusion, as the Japanese government closed the borders to international trade. The lack of foreign influence in Japan has enabled a unique culture to flourish and the population to remain nearly 98% homogenous, meaning nearly everyone that lives in Japan is Japanese.
Table of Contents
English in Japan
Speaking Difficulties
Classroom Atmosphere
International Programs
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Andrew C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs... [Read more]
Pronunciation Challenges of French Native-Speaking Students - TEFL Blog
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Pronunciation Challenges of French Native-Speaking Students
Each student faces their difficulties when it comes to English pronunciation depending on their country of origin. This essay will focus on the pronunciation difficulties facing ESL students in France and will also propose some solutions to help students overcome these difficulties.
Table of Contents
French Sound System
IPA
Difficult Sounds
The Dark /L/ Sound
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kerri M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
French Sound System
The number of English vowel sounds greatly outnumbers those... [Read more]
Common Pronunciation Challenges for Learners in Azerbaijan - TEFL Blog
Mon, 17 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Common Pronunciation Challenges for Learners in Azerbaijan
Pronunciation is an essential part of the English language. Clear and cohesive speech can create meaningful conversations, meanwhile incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings. Every, non-native English-speaking country has pronunciation problems. One of the countries which come across with pronunciation errors is my homeland Azerbaijan. It is a lovely country, with nice traditions and people.
Table of Contents
Multilingual Country
Historical Reasons
Modern Situation
Digital Age
Teacher Training
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Narmina M. Please note that this... [Read more]
English Pronunciation Problems of Italian Native Speakers - TEFL Blog
Sun, 12 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
English Pronunciation Problems of Italian Native Speakers
Teaching English pronunciation to students of other languages is always a big deal. English teachers from other countries may think that it is a topic to be skipped or only briefly introduced to students, but it is one of the most important subjects and it should be an integral part of an English course. As a matter of fact, the full understanding of a language and good communication actually depend, to a certain extent, on how correctly words are pronounced. Also, it is not only a matter of pronunciation but intonation. Every language has its own intonation and stress on words, so an English learner could find it difficult to get used to a new way of pronouncing words in... [Read more]
Several Common Challenges for French-Speaking ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Mon, 06 Jan 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Several Common Challenges for French-Speaking ESL Students
French are bad at speaking English, it's a fact, proven by many studies but also by the shameful spectacle of our politician trying to say things in Shakespeare's language. The Elite not having a decent level it is hard to blame the population for not trying very hard. International studies are all putting French students at the last position in Europe for mastering English skills. Even more alarming in 2008 the TOEFL results were putting France at the 69th rank on 109 countries. In 9th Grade, only 14% of the students have an "independent level" according to a 2011 study of the European Commission (we also note that only 9% of English 9 graders are "independent" in... [Read more]
Tefl reviews - Pronunciation And Phonology/oh Sound - ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ITTT
Pronunciation and Phonology in the EFL Classroom - "Oh" Sound
Here we have a set of five words, which all share one sound: the ?oh? sound, as in ?go?, ?show?, ?dough?, ?note? and ?boat?. They?re five different spelling patterns to tell our students so they can identify when to make the ?oh? sound. We can have a simple letter ?o?, ?ow?, ?ough?, ?o? with the magic ?e? which turns our vowel into what we knew as long sounds and the ?oa? as in ?boat?. Now, for a non-native learner, perhaps they can handle something like this. They remember that these spelling combinations help to produce the ?oh? sound and they can go about their business looking at the words and memorizing this knowing that these spelling patterns will produce the sound ?oh?. Now that?s okay until we get to a... [Read more]
These Are the Most Common English Pronunciation Mistakes Made by Italian Native Speakers - TEFL Blog
Thu, 30 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
These Are the Most Common English Pronunciation Mistakes Made by Italian Native Speakers
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Stefania F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Table of Contents
Teaching English pronunciation to students of other languages is always a big deal.
One of the biggest challenges when teaching English to Italians is its phonetics.
I personally witnessed pronunciation difficulties when I taught English in Italy in high school last year.
Apart from Italian students, I also taught a small group of French, Latin-American, and Arabic migrants, recently arrived in Italy. Not only did they have a low level of Italian, but they were... [Read more]
Common Difficulties in Teaching English to Native Mandarin Speakers - TEFL Blog
Tue, 11 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina
Alumni Experiences
Common Difficulties in Teaching English to Native Mandarin Speakers
Learning a second language can be difficult, and this is especially true when the learners L1 and their target language are completely different in structure, sound, and tones. An English as a second language student who speaks French, German, or any other European language will have an easier task than one who speaks a language that is not of European origins. One such language is Mandarin Chinese.
Table of Contents
State of The Problem
The Chinese Language Structure
Tenses
Sentence Structure
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This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ashley L. Please note that this blog post might not... [Read more]
Three Typical Pronunciation Problems for Japanese ESL Students - TEFL Blog
Tue, 17 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina
Teaching Ideas
Three Typical Pronunciation Problems for Japanese ESL Students
According to a study by scholars and experts in the field of linguistics, more specifically in the article of Riney & Anderson-Hsieh from International Christian University, the native language (L1) is a good predictor of pronunciation accuracy in English as researched by Suter in 1976. In the same article, it was mentioned that a subsequent study by Purcell and Suter in 1980, found that non-native speakers who are most likely to pronounce English (L2) poorly, fit the profile in Japanese ESL students.
Table of Contents
1. /L/ and /R/ sound
2. /ng/ sound
3. /th/ Fricatives
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This post was... [Read more]
Teaching Monolingual vs. Multilingual Groups: What You Need To Know - TEFL Blog
Mon, 22 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore
Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas
Teaching Monolingual vs. Multilingual Groups: What You Need To Know
A multilingual class is a class where the learners speak a variety of first languages. A monolingual class is a class where all the learners speak the same first language. I have been working in international school setting for over 13 years. The classes are multilingual classes where students come from different cultures and English is the common language for them to communicate with their teachers and classmates.
Table of Contents
Common Difficulties
Common Culture
Exposure to English
Mother Tongue
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By contrast, English classes in local schools and universities in China... [Read more]