NATESOL ConferenceSaturday 18th May 2013

Sounds Interesting

Pronunciation: the Cinderella of ELT…?

Adrian UnderhillBlog: adrianpronchart.wordpress.com

Q: Why is pronunciation so important?

A: Because it infuses all language activity:

ReadingWriting

Speaking Listening Thinking

Remembering

In spite of this pronunciation is neglected ….

Pronunciation is the Cinderella of language teaching… her two very attractive sisters, Grammar and Vocabulary have cornered language learning…. providing only a 2-dimensional matrix

Pronunciation provides the third dimension… that gives language volume and body

The ‘pronunciation slot’ is symptomatic of a disintegrated approach to pronunciation

 

Two (unnecessary) complications make pronunciation seem difficult to teach:

Problem 1Pronunciation is seen as mysterious, endless. It lacks a thinking tool or map

Problem 2Pronunciation is cognitively taught whenit should be physical, muscular, like a dance

Possible resolution for first problem:

1. The chart It provides a map, a thinking tool, a complete gestalt

This can be demonstrated in a few minutes

Possible resolution for second problem

2. PhysicalityTeach it physically, as if a subtle inner dance.Reconnect with the muscles that make the difference. This also makes it visible.

This can also be demonstrated in a few minutes

The muscle buttons:

1. Tongue (moving forward and back)2. Lips (spreading and bringing back, or rounding and pushing forward)3. Jaw + tongue (moving them up and down) 4. Voice (turning it on or off, to make voiced or unvoiced sounds)

Integrated pronunciation teachingWhat could integrated pron look like?- Provide pron at point of purchase- Cannot retrofit pron (eg in ‘pron’ slots)- Exploit the ubiquitousness of pron- Thus systemic impact on all skills- NOT ‘what we do now only more…’- And NOT more time consuming- Mobilise physical part: brings recognition,

pleasure and satisfaction…- Re-abled language worthy of human brain- Sts say: “Thanks, that’s what I came for…”

Summary

Physical and visible approachChart as geographic map

Use of pron chart as worktableVisual dictation: default classroom

activity

Few materials neededAllows full integration of pron

Mistakes are the syllabusWe do not teach the symbols …

No one ‘knows’ the chart

Further information:

Blogs: adrianpronchart.wordpress.com demandhighelt.wordpress.com

App: SOUNDS The pronunciation app

Book: Sound Foundations (Macmillan)

Online: Links to demos, videos etc in handout

SOUNDS: The pronunciation app

The ultimate mobile English pronunciation aid for students and

teachers.

Based on the best-selling Macmillan title Sound Foundations by Adrian

Underhill

SOUNDS helps you study, practise and play with British and American

pronunciation

NATESOL ConferenceSaturday 18th May 2013

Pronunciation, the Cinderella of ELT

THANK YOU!

Blogs: adrianpronchart.wordpress.

comdemandhighelt.wordpress.c

om

Adrian Underhill