What Is The Phonetics

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Phonetics and Phonology in the ESL Classroom What is phonology? Most students have not even heard about it. Whenever I ask my students whether they know or have ever learned about phonetics, the same answers come out, "No, we don't know about it at all". It is no wonder they reply like this because there is no phonetic teaching lesson in English classes from KG to high school here in my country. As for me, I got to study about this only when I attended college. Even then, it wasn't taught comprehensively and I only learned very little. So I couldn't read nor write phonetic symbols very well. Thus I thought it was the most difficult part of studying English. Table of Contents Reasons to pay attention to phonetics Phonetics in the...  [Read more]

Agency Week TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Agency Week TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.D. - India said: PHONETICS?The English Language must be introduced to the Indian students by using the phonetics in all the schools?. The English Language is difficult to learn as far as the spelling and their pronunciation goes and the same can be well understood by George Bernard Shaw?s poem ?Hints on Pronunciation for Foreigners?. The same is also evident with the examples of similar spellings but different pronunciations as well as different spellings but same pronunciations...  [Read more]

Location Reputable TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Location Reputable TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts 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]

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Importance of Teaching Phonetics to ESL Students How many of us have had to call into customer service only to struggle to understand the employee's English? The simple process to find a solution to a problem often becomes increasingly frustrating and exhausting for both parties. While monolinguistic persons may not appreciate the struggle to learn and master a new language, as instructors to those individuals working to learning English, phonetics is key. Table of Contents English alphabet Why do students need phonetics? How to teach phonetics effectively? Practice in isolation Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Antranik...  [Read more]

Cheap TEFL Centers Check out tefl tesol about Cheap TEFL Centers and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts V.S. - U.S.A. said: PhoneticsIt is no secret that many learners face pronunciation difficulties at every stage of their English studies. Linguistics, specifically the fields of Phonetics and Phonology, are invaluable assets to learners and teachers alike. English, as any other language, has a certain set of linguistic rules which foreign students must acquire and which native speakers adopt naturally throughout the course of their early years. Unfortunately, each language has...  [Read more]

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Should Chinese ESL Students Have Explicit Phonetic Instruction? During nine years of teaching English as a Second language, I have discovered how important phonetics is in learning the correct pronunciation of the English language, and in fact, in any language. Derwing and Munro (2005) emphasize, "It is essential to have an accurate understanding of the target language phonological system to enhance the quality of pronunciation". Table of Contents We should look at some of the problems that L2 learners have when trying to produce accurate L1 language patterns. We also have to take into account the students. Chinese students are very reluctant to speak in a classroom setting. So what pronunciation mistakes are most common? Do you...  [Read more]

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]

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. Do you want to teach English abroad or online? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jane M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the...  [Read more]

Fri, 22 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Learning Phonetics is Important Linguistics is the scientific study of the human language and its structure, and as any other science, it is divided into different branches or areas of analysis. One of these divisions examines the articulation of sounds and has a name that corresponds to its function: phonetics. Despite the crucial character it plays in its scientific field, the one it performs in teaching is considered roughly secondary. Nonetheless, a change in role assignment could improve the learning of the English language immensely. Table of Contents Speaking as a skill What aspects should you teach? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Deciphering English Language Sounds: The Realm of Phonetics and Phonology In this blog post, we'll will delve into phonetics and phonology as described in George Yule's book, "The Study of Language." Phonetic and phonology are two branches of linguistics focused on the sound system. They are critical to understanding how speech sounds are produced, which, in turn, shapes language and communication. This discussion will explore various aspects of phonetics and phonology, breaking down the complex world of sounds in the English language. Table of Contents Phonetics and the Sound System Articulation Points Manner of Articulation Vowels and Diphthongs Phonology: The Sound Patterns of Language Teaching...  [Read more]

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Rules of Phonetics and Phonology in ESL Teaching In my experience tutoring students in English as a foreign language, the most overlooked learning points were undoubtedly phonetics, phonology, and their connection to pronunciation. Occasionally, there would be a few students who specifically asked for materials that would allow them to perfect or improve their English accent. Some students even requested to receive tutoring in different accents such as the Australian accent. No matter what the request was, it became clear to me over time that the missing link when teaching pronunciation was its connection to phonology and phonetics. From this point on, I became incredibly interested in this topic. Table of Contents My Course Research...  [Read more]

College Inclass TEFL Check out tefl tesol about College Inclass TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts 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]

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]

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? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: 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]

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]

Our ITTT TEFL and TESOL Alumni Stories The Most Common Mistakes Russian Speakers Make When Learning English Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post contains information on the most common problems faced by Russian English learners. 7 Fun Reward Systems That Will Keep Your Students More Engaged Karah Musani Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Teaching children can be challenging. Here are 7 fun reward systems that will keep your students more engaged. Should Chinese ESL Students Have Explicit Phonetic Instruction? Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our TEFL graduate considers some common challenges in English phonetics for the Chinese students. Parent Intervention is Essential for the Success of Education Elizaveta Pachina Alumni...  [Read more]

Centre TEFL Online Check out tefl tesol about Centre TEFL Online and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.K. - New Zealand said: Problems for Learners in East TimorIn the following article I will discuss the difficulties encountered when learning English in East Timor. There are two angles from which I will approach this topic, the first consisting of the cultural and historical identity of East Timor. I will analyse how this affects education, available resources, and impacts upon individual people and their ability to learn. The second subject I will focus on is problematic...  [Read more]

Sun, 19 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Difficulties for Teachers Teaching South Korean Students Before starting my TEFL course to gain a more professional basis, I worked as an English teacher in South Korea for about one year. In this short essay, I will explain some of the most prominent difficulties South Korean students seem to face when learning English. Table of Contents Education system Differences in the phonetic systems of Korean and English Syntactic differences Korean culture Do you want to teach English in South-Korea? Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Laura M. Education system First and foremost, the educational structure in South Korea is quite different from those of Europe or the United States. Korean kids...  [Read more]

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Pronunciation Mistakes of Japanese Students This piece will discuss the difficulties faced by Japanese learners of English regarding English pronunciation and suggest methods to help learners in different age groups overcome them. It posits that most difficulties stem from the differences in phonology between the English alphabet and the Japanese kana system. Table of Contents Differences in the Alphabetic Systems Ways to Overcome Difficulties Working with Adults How to Approach Young Students Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Niall M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Qualifications TEFL Weekend Check out tefl tesol about Qualifications TEFL Weekend and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts H. H. - Egypt said: Pronunciation Problems in EgyptI have been teaching English for almost eight years for Egyptian university students at the English Department. Out of my experience of teaching Phonetics and Phonology for those students, I can conclude that the Egyptian learners of English encounter many pronunciation problems because of two main reasons: the English spelling as a poor reflection of the English pronunciation as well as the differences between...  [Read more]

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Difficulties in English Phonetics and Phonology: How Foreign Learners Can Master it First and foremost I'd like to address why phonetics issues very early piqued my interest in teaching English for foreigners. Ever since childhood, I was surrounded by people with substantial articulatory and auditory phonetic problems, not so much with the acoustic ones. Table of Contents Natural Problems Study Issues Self-consciousness Firstly, I attended the sign language and lip-reading courses. Are my efforts worthwhile? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Asbiorn B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or...  [Read more]

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Importance of Games When Learning English as a Foreign Language at Primary School Games activity in the foreign language lesson is one of the basic ways of learning English at primary school. Table of Contents What is a game? Game concepts contain qualifications like: Typically, they require the student's ability to know the subject. Lexical games Grammar games Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Özden G. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. What is a game? The game - one of the most important means of education of children. Lessons from the use of games are an effective...  [Read more]

Providers Diploma TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Providers Diploma TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts G.F. - Germany said: Computer Aided Language LearningPersonally I feel this is one of the most advanced techniques for acquiring a language in an intensive and reduced duration of time. Most important is that you reside in the country of the language in order you can immerse yourself and ensure you have as much opportunity as possible to reproduce the language which has been absorbed. I made this experience while learning mandarin chinese in Taiwan for the traditional...  [Read more]

Agency Official TEFL Check out tefl tesol about Agency Official TEFL and apply today to be certified to teach English abroad. You could also be interested in: This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned: Check out ITTT's Blog Posts A.C. - Korea said: Phonetics/Phonology Phonology is the study of the sounds by speakers of a particular language. A phoneme is a sound that makes a difference in meaning in a language. Since all students who study language need to be able to perceive and create the sounds that make up words, it is obvious how important the role of phonological knowledge is in learning a second language. Freeman and Freeman (2004) believe that ?students learning English as a second language...  [Read more]

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas How Basic Understanding of Phonetics Can Help Your EFL Teaching Say the word 'hat' to yourself out loud. Now say 'mouth'. Was it easy? If you are a native English speaker you did it without thinking. You didn't have to contort your face into all sorts of funny shapes or feel self-conscience during the process. The reason is that you already know the phonology of those two English words. You may not understand exactly how you said those words; whether they were plosives or voiced or non-voiced, whether or not the tongue was forward touching the teeth or raised touching the soft palate. You don't need to know. You have heard and said these words hundreds if not thousands of times in your life. You already can say them easily without...  [Read more]

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching English to Beginners in Japan Japanese is certainly one of the most interesting languages in the world thanks to its three types of writing (hiragana, katakana and kanji). Table of Contents International Links Main Challenges: Phonetic System Main Challenges: Exposure to English Main Challenges: Grammar Main Challenges: Beginners Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Desiree I. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. International Links After the outbreak of intercontinental travel (therefore with the appearance of commercialization and missionaries around the world) many...  [Read more]

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences The Most Common Problems Students in Nigeria Face When Learning English In recent times, it is safe to say that the English language is one of the most spoken languages and widely preferred L2s according to the Oxford dictionary. For communication to be successful, however, certain criteria need to be met. For instance, one must not only study the forms or shape of things but must also adhere to the formation of words and phrases alike in order to craft well-formed sentences, along with understanding the meaning of each word, phrase or the relationship between two words. Whether they differ or are similar in terms of phonetics and spelling before actually making use of it, it is important to note that anything contrary to this will...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Liza is a translator, freelancer and ESL teacher from Russia. She had been teaching in a Chinese bilingual school for more than two years and recently moved to Thiland to run her blog about teaching and freelance job. Read my articles Learning with Diversity | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post overviews the importance of cultural diversity in the ESL classroom. Moving Forward: My Personal Teaching Experience, Changing Careers | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our TEFL graduate shares their thoughts and experiences of changing a career path. What is the Role of an Effective EFL Teacher? | ITTT | TEFL Blog Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences This blog post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Problems for Indian Learners in ESL Unlike many other countries, India does not have a national language. There are over 30 official languages spoken in India. English has been adopted by the government for judicial and administrative proceedings, and most Indians have a functional understanding of English. However, many Indians struggle to learn and use English effectively. Table of Contents Pronunciation Exposure to English Differences in Language Structure Translation Approach Vocabulary Challenge Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Tejaswini K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions...  [Read more]

The Best Teaching Ideas for TEFL Teachers 5 Best Activities to Implement in the Classroom Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post contains 5 perfect flashcard activities to use in your ESL classroom. What are The Challenges for English Learners in Japan? Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas This blog post is devoted to the typical issues faced by students in Japan when learning English. Our TEFL graduate shares their observations. Discipline in the Classroom - Why is it Important and How is it Maintained? Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas What is discipline, why is it important and how to keep it in the classroom? Read in this blog post. Several Useful Ideas for Your Students to Stay Motivated Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In this blog post, our TEFL...  [Read more]