Teaching American English Pronunciation

Catalog description

Study and application of principles of North American English phonetics and theories of teaching pronunciation. APLNG 410 Teaching American English Pronunciation (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements This course, for teachers who deal with speakers of other languages, integrates research and theory on the acquisition and development of pronunciation, as well as current pedagogy, to enable them to construct their own principled theory of teaching pronunciation. Students are introduced to the characteristics of the consonant and vowels systems of English. In addition, students are introduced to variations in the production of consonants and vowels by speakers of languages other than English. Students are expected to understand and to be able to describe the stress rhythm, and intonation of English as well as the adjustments that are made in connected speech. Students will learn how grammar and orthography influence the pronunciation of phonemes. Students will learn how to diagnose an individual's difficulties in the production of North American English and will learn how to develop appropriate curriculum. By focusing on instructional strategies from fields as diverse as theater arts, psychology, and instructional technology, students will be able to individualize their instruction by providing alternative ways to better respond to second language speakers' learning styles and preferences. Moreover, this course requires students to develop and implement appropriate curriculum for both hypothetical, real tutorial, and whole class instruction.The objectives of this course are for teachers 1) to develop a satisfactory understanding of the phonetics of North American English, including consonants, vowels, rhythm, stress, intonation and prominence, 2) to develop an understanding of the relationship between listening and pronunciation, as well as orthography and pronunciation, 3) to develop an ability to explain these phonetic concepts appropriate to students with varying learning styles using a variety of techniques such as kinesthetic and tactile reinforcement, 4) to develop an ability to diagnose speakers' particular pronunciation difficulties and to create instructional materials in response, 5) to develop a coherent philosophy of the teaching of pronunciation, and 6) to develop an ability to evaluate pronunciation textbooks and materials and supplement them when necessary.