Tuesday 7 June 2016

Phonetics is an Important Part of Language Learning

Phonetics plays an important role in speaking English as a second language. It is an indispensable component of English language. Teaching phonetics to Indian students is too difficult because various dialect problems are bound to arise. And many of these students think that there is no constructive usage of learning pronunciation. They know that all languages are spoken first and written second. If they could speak English with local people, whatever the pronunciation may be, it is not observable but while communicating with foreigners, the speakers must articulate standard pronunciation. But this is a wrong notion. As pronunciation is not an optional for the language learner, rather it is an integral part of language like any other aspect like grammar, vocabulary etc. It is necessary because the spelling of an English word does clearly state how we should pronounce it.


Few techniques and activities can be practised for useful results for learners and teachers:
1.    Reading aloud: - The learners should read aloud the paragraphs or text to improve good pronunciation. The teacher’s responsibility is to identify the errors and mistakes in pronunciation made by the learner and give them quality feedback to improve their skills of communication. The classroom techniques and activities for teaching EFL pronunciation make the learner add on their talent for bettering their pronunciation.

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2.    Conversational Activities: -
The teachers are responsible for designing communicative tasks so that he/she can indirectly improve the learner’s pronunciation and speaking skills. Mini-conversations or dialogues for both young and adult learners in an EFL classroom will practice particular sounds, especially those which are not there in their mother tongue. Such activities could be participating in plays, debates, discussions, rehearsals will help them to improve on their pronunciation and they gain confidence in due process.

3.    Dictionary Practice: -
An authentic dictionary provides the meaning and the phonetic transcription. It helps the learners to develop on the syllable division and stress mark. They could easily find the right pronunciation and correct themselves. It is thus helpful to take note from the dictionary which provides both grammar and vocabulary.

4.    Repeating sounds: -
Pronunciation by using and repeating the sounds, one can easily learn the correct articulation. Thus the learners must practice word frequently; they can easily remember its pronunciation and phonetic transcription.

5.    Computer-assisted language learning: - CALL plays a significant role in learning phonetics. They can find out their mistakes through using computer. The learners get various benefits out of it. They will be monitored, guided and given full freedom. Teachers can make use of the visual displays of speech pattern to teach intonation, stress and phonemes to learners. This tool is useful for all categories of learners.

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6.    Self-help: - When the learners practice the phonetics and pay attention to it, the improvement will be in their articulation. Self –monitoring is also the important action in terms of self correction and fixing one’s inaccuracy after they have repeated the word or phrase correctly. The teachers must teach the learners to self monitor, and give their feedback regarding the same.

Thus we can conclude that phonetics being the indispensable component in English language is a compulsory constituent in speaking a second language. The activities and techniques suggested above will bring high-quality articulations. Phonetics courses as integral part of teacher training courses must be pursued to deliver adequately or learn the techniques to involve students of different age groups the proficiency and accuracy to speak English in a correct way and manner.

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