How To Teach And

Assess Language
Content - The Sound
System Of English

Phonology
The

study of the sounds of language

Everyone

The

speaks with an accent

phonological

system

of

language consists of its individual

speech sounds, as well as its stress,
rhythm, and intonation patterns

Phonemes
The

smallest unit of sound that can

affect meaning in a language

Though

letters,

the English alphabet has 26

English

speakers

more than 40 sounds

produce

Pronunciation
Difficulties

Interference from the first language

The sounds of the first language are

imprinted

very

early

in

the

childs

development; however, most children

are born with the vocal equipment to
produce the sounds of any language

Teaching Pronunciation
Younger

children who are learning

English seldom need a great deal of
help with pronunciation

Learners

older than 11 or 12 are

more likely to have trouble with
specific words, sounds, intonation
patterns
require
focused
instruction

When to Teach
Pronunciation
1.

student

sounds

confuses
that

or

may

distorts

specific

interfere

with

comprehension
2.

Uses pronunciations that are stigmatized

tree for three

3.

Distorts

the

pronunciation

stressing the wrong syllable

4.

Uses inappropriate intonation

of

words

by

How to Teach
Pronunciation
1.

Read aloud often

2.

Read

the

same

statement

different ways
3.

Books on tape

4.

Language arts software

5.

Choral reading

6.

Minimal pairs

several

.How to Teach
Pronunciation
7. Practice producing sounds
8. Make up sentences
9. Create posters or booklets for certain
sounds
10. Allow pronunciation practice
11. Use pronunciation guides with older
students
12.Rehearse, read aloud, short passages

How to assess
Pronunciation

References

Amy Gerhiser & Diana Wrenn, March 3,

2007. Second Language Pronunciation
Assessment
Handout
Packet,
GA
TESOL(PDF)

Vivian Cooks The Sound System of

English
http://
homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/Writing
s/InsideLanguage/ILPhonology.htm

http://www.theguardian.com/education/te
acher-blog/2013/apr/01/phonics-teachingresources-schools