Beyond "listen and repeat" - an overview of English pronunciation teaching

materials

Magdalena WrembelMagdalena Wrembel

Adam Mickiewicz University, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań magdala@amu.edu.plPoznań magdala@amu.edu.pl

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IntroductionIntroduction

Unexplored question - have material designers responded to changing perspectives?

Jones (1997): "In spite of a changed phonological focus [...] teaching techniques and tasks continue to rely on the behaviourist notions of SLA such as habit formation".

My intention: to examine how recent SLA findings and new trends in pronunciation pedagogy are reflected in pronunciation materials

Selected materials:– textbooks– computer software– Internet web sites

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Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation

Theoretical introduction - changing perspectives in pronunciation pedagogy

Analysis of materials– Model accents– Goals and priorities– Common core features– Pronunciation teaching techniques

Conclusions

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Changing perspectives in Changing perspectives in pronunciation pedagogypronunciation pedagogy

Historical outline of pronunciation instruction:

Grammar Translation - irrelevant Direct Method - intuition & imitation Audiolingual Method - important, drills Communicative Approach - initially

disregarded, growing awareness

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Changing perspectives in Changing perspectives in pronunciation pedagogy (2)pronunciation pedagogy (2)

Shift in priorities (segmentals < suprasegmentals)

Contextualisation and fluency-building Widened scope of pronunciation

instruction Holistic approach Autonomy and speech awareness New technologies

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Materials analysis - model accentsMaterials analysis - model accents

Textbooks (31) CD-ROMs (13) Internet resources

BE-19 ? - 2 BE- 4 AE-10

Phonetics reference sites

Phonetic labs Professional

organisations Text files Sound files

AE-10 ? - 2

19

10

2

4

10

2

0

24

68

10

1214

16

1820

BE -books

AE -books

Other -books

BE -CDs

AE -CDs

Other -CDs

BE - books

AE - books

Other - books

BE - CDs

AE - CDs

Other - CDs

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Target model variety Target model variety - years of publication- years of publication

0

5

10

15

20

25

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

BE

AE

Other

8

20%

35%

45% segmentals

suprasegm.

segm.+suprasegm.

Redirection of priorities Redirection of priorities

segmentals suprasegmentals

segmentals+suprasegm.

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Focus on segmentalsFocus on segmentals11

1960s-70s Detailed treatment of Vs & Cs Optional features:

– consonantal clusters,– weak forms,– linking,– elements of stress & intonation

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Focus on segmentalsFocus on segmentals22

Textbooks:

Baker,A. 1977. Ship or sheep? An intermediate pronunciation

course. Baker, A. 1982. Tree or Three? An elementary pronunciation

course. Barnard,G.L. & P.S.McKay. 1963. Practice in spoken English. Hooke,R. & J. Rowell. 1982. A handbook of English pronunciation. Kenyon,J. S. 1956. American pronunciation. MacCarthy,P.1965. A practice book of English speech. Munro Mackenzie,M.D.1973. Modern English pronunciation

practice.

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Segmentals + suprasegmentalsSegmentals + suprasegmentals11

1980s - 1990s Vs - quantitative & qualitative, emphasis differs Cs - focal areas:

• aspiration, contrast, fortis / lenis, clusters

Suprasegmentals: • stress & rhythm, connected speech, weak forms,

intonation

Additional features:• spelling - sound correspondence, guidance for

different L1, voice quality

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Segmentals + suprasegmentalsSegmentals + suprasegmentals22

Arabski,J. 1987. Wymowa amerykańska. Cunningham S, & B. Bowler. 1999. New Headway Pronunciation Course Hewings,M. 1993. Pronunciation tasks. A course for pre-intermediate

learners. O'Connor,J. D. & J. Fletcher.1989. Sounds English. O'Connor,J. D. 1967 (1989). Better English pronunciation. Orion,G. 1997. Pronouncing American English: sounds, stress, and

intonation. Ponsby, M. 1982. How Now, Brown Cow? Reszkiewicz,A. 1981. Correct your English pronunciation. Sobkowiak,W. 1996. English phonetics for Poles. CD PRONUNCIATION POWER CD SPEAK FLUENT AMERICAN ENGLISH CD MOULTON INTERACTIVE INTRO TO PHON & PHON CD FONETYKA ANGIELSKA W PIGUŁCE CD HUMMINGBIRD SOUND MACHINES

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Suprasegmentals Suprasegmentals 11

Stress - (word stress, nuclear stress, unaccented syllables, schwa, weak forms)

Rhythm - (thought groups)

Intonation - (communicative function, discourse-based)

Secondary importance

– Connected speech– Individual sounds - selected aspects

» aspiration, voicing, consonantal contrasts, clusters

» vowel duration» practised in the context of connected speech

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Suprasegmentals Suprasegmentals 22

Bogle,D. 1996. Practical phonology. Bradford, B. 1988. Intonation in Context. Brazil,D. 1994. Pronunciation for advanced learners of English. Gilbert,J. 1993. Clear speech. Miller,S.F. 2000. Targeting pronunciation: the intonation, sounds, and

rhythm of American English. Morley, J. 1979. Improving Spoken English. Mortimer,C. 1985. Elements of pronunciation. Prator,C. 1951 (1985). A manual of American English pronunciation. Rogerson,P. & J.B.Gilbert. 1990. Speaking clearly. Vaughan-Rees, M. 1994. Rhymes and Rhythm. Weinstein, N. 1982. Whaddaya Say? Zawadzki, H. 1994 In tempo. CD BETTER ACCENT TUTOR.FOR AMERICAN ENGLISH CD PRONUNCIATION IN AMERICAN ENGLISH CD CONNECTED SPEECH

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Pronunciation syllabi - common core Pronunciation syllabi - common core features vs. LFCfeatures vs. LFC

85% weak vowel 77% intonation 74% word stress 70% vowel quantity 67% vowel quality 67% tonic stress 46% - consonantal

clusters 67% unstressed syllables 44% - linking 63% rhythm (thought groups) 41% - rhotic r 59% diphthongs 37% - assimilation 56% dental fricatives 37% - aspiration 52% weak forms 32% - fortis / lenis 52% consonants 18% - spelling / sound 48% elisions 18% - dark l

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Pronunciation teaching techniques

"Listen and repeat" Minimal pair drills

– Sample materials: Higgin's Home Page, Baker 1977, Baker 1982, Barnard & McKay 1963, O'Connor 1967, O'Connor & Fletcher 1989, Orion 1997, Cunningham & Bowler 1999

Ear training -recognition/discrimination – Baker 1977, Baker 1982, O'Connor 1967, O'Connor & Fletcher

1989, Clear Speech Works (CD), Ponsby 1982, UCL

Phonetic training– Reszkiewicz 1981, Arabski 1987, Brazil 1994, Orion 1997, The

Mouton Interactive Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology (CD), Fonetyka angielska w pigułce (CD), PHON2, UCLA's Phonetic Lab, Maidment's Pronunciation Tip of the Day

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Pronunciation teaching techniques (2)

Reading aloud / recitation– Mortimer 1985, Bradford 1988, Brazil 1994, Ponsby 1982

Tongue twisters and poems– Vaughan-Rees 1994, Reck's Collection of Tongue Twisters

Pronunciation games– Maidments' Sound Machines, Windmayer's Sounds of English

Pronunciation Power (CD), Bogle 1996, Hancock 2003

Communicative / contextualised activities– Morley 1979, Bradford 1988, O'Connor & Fletcher 1989,

Gilbert 1993, Hewings & Goldstein 1993, Brazil 1994, Miller 2000

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Pronunciation teaching techniques (3)

Pair work– O'Connor & Fletcher 1989, Miller 2000, Hewings &

Goldstein 1993

Multisensory modes of presentation– Kinaesthetic reinforcement

• Bogle 1996, Miller 2000

– Visual support• Sobkowiak 1996, Orion 1997, Pronunciation Power (CD),

Clear Speech Works (CD), CSLU Toolkit Baldi

Guidance for users of different languages: Cunningham & Bowler 1999, O'Connor & Fletcher 1989, Hancock 2003

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Pronunciation teaching techniques (4)

Transcription exercises– Bogle 1996, Orion 1997, Lecumberri & Maidment 2000

Integrated skills– Speak Fluent American English (CD), Gilbert 1993

Voice quality– Speak Fluent American English (CD)

Sensitisation– Bradford 1988, Brazil 1994, Hancock 2003

Self-monitoring and learners' autonomy: – Brazil 1994, Miller 2000, CD-ROMs

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ConclusionsConclusions

Greater variety in NS-model accents Redefined goals and priorities

– intelligibility & communication Pronunciation syllabi - little compatibility

with LFC Wider inventory of teaching techniques

– beyond "listen & repeat" – consciousness-raising and self-monitoring

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Internet resources - Internet resources - Phonetics Reference SitesPhonetics Reference Sites

CyberPhon (acoustic phonetics) http://www.cyberphon.univ-lyon2.fr

PHON2: Phonetics beyond the basics http://www.linguistics.reading.ac.uk/phon2

Pronunciation Web Resources - links http://www.sunburstmedia.com/PronWeb.html

An overview of pronunciation software, D. Healey http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/tesol2002/pron.html

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Internet resources (2) - text filesInternet resources (2) - text files

John Higgin's Home Page - minimal pairs http://www.marlodge.supanet.com/

Michael Reck's Collection of Tongue Twisters http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.html

Sharon Windmayer's Sounds of English http://www.soundsofenglish.org

Maidment's Pronunciation Tip of the Day http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/johnm/eptotd/tiphome.html

SIL's IPA Fonts http://www.itl.atr.co.jp/comp.speech/Section1/Fonts/sil.ipa.html

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Internet resources (3) - practical Internet resources (3) - practical activities on the Webactivities on the Web

John Maidments' Sound Machines http://www.eptotd.btinternet.co.uk/vm/soundmachines.htm

• Vowel Machine• Transcriber• TONI • PLATO

Web-based transcription tool http://www.wtt.org.uk

Sharon Windmayer's Sounds of English http://www.soundsofenglish.org

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Internet resources (4) - phonetic Internet resources (4) - phonetic labs and organisationslabs and organisations

UCLA's Phonetics Lab http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/linguistics/faciliti/uclaplab.html

Phonetics Dep. at the University College London http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/wells

The International Phonetic Association http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/IPA/ipa.html

IATEFL's Pronun. Special Interest Group http://members.aol.com/PronunciationSig/index.html

TESOL's Speech/Pronunc. Special Interest Section http://www.public.iastate.edu/~jlevis/SPRIS/

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Pronunciation CD-ROMs

THE MOUTON INTERACTIVE INTRODUCTION TO PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY

FONETYKA ANGIELSKA W PIGUŁCE, Sobkowiak,W. 2000. (BE) PRONUNCIATION POWER (AE)

http://www.englishlearning.com/pronpowr.html PRONUNCIATION IN AMERICAN ENGLISH 1999 (AE) BETTER ACCENT TUTOR FOR AMERICAN ENGLISH (AE) SPEAK FLUENT AMERICAN ENGLISH (AE) HUMMINGBIRD (AE) http://www.humbird.com SOUND MACHINES (BE) CONNECTED SPEECH (AE, BE, Australian) CLEAR SPEECH WORKS (AE) AMERICAN SPEECH SOUNDS (AE) ENGLISH EASY: VOWELS AND CONSONANTS (Canadian English) PPO-NUNCIATION SOUND LAB & MOUTH EXERCISES (BE, AE) AMERICAN ACCENT PROGRAMME (AE)