Many adult language learners find pronunciation to be one of the most challenging aspects of learning English. They often struggle with producing certain sounds, intonation, and stress patterns, which can impact their ability to communicate effectively. As TESOL teachers, it is crucial to address these difficulties and offer practical solutions to improve learners’ pronunciation. According to pronunciation expert Adrian Underhill, the key is to encourage learners to pay closer attention to how they produce sounds and vary practice activities to make pronunciation engaging and enjoyable. Here are some strategies for enhancing pronunciation skills in your English language lessons.
1. Incorporate the Phonemic Chart
Using a phonemic chart can be an excellent way to introduce learners to the different sounds in English. It allows them to visualize the sounds and understand where they are produced in the mouth. By helping students recognize the symbols and associate them with specific sounds, teachers can demystify pronunciation. Encourage students to refer to the chart during lessons to identify sounds they find challenging.
2. Focus on Phonemic Awareness
To help learners distinguish between different sounds, teachers can include activities that focus on minimal pairs—words that differ by only one sound, such as “ship” and “sheep” or “bat” and “bet.” Practicing minimal pairs improves learners’ listening skills and their ability to produce accurate sounds. Activities such as repeating minimal pairs, playing “odd one out,” or using phonemic bingo can make this process interactive and enjoyable.
3. Use Visual Cues and Gestures
Visual cues and gestures can be very effective for teaching pronunciation, especially for adult learners who may be visual or kinesthetic learners. Teachers can demonstrate mouth movements, tongue positioning, and airflow using hand gestures or diagrams to show how sounds are produced. For example, showing students the position of the tongue for the “th” sound (as in “think”) can make a noticeable difference in their ability to produce it correctly.
4. Implement the “Mirroring” Technique
One of the most engaging and fun ways to practice pronunciation is through mirroring, where students imitate the teacher’s spoken words or sentences. The teacher should exaggerate mouth movements and intonation patterns to help students observe how the sounds are made. Mirroring can be practiced using various media, such as videos, songs, or recorded dialogues, where learners mimic native speakers’ accents, rhythm, and stress.
5. Integrate Technology and Pronunciation Apps
Technology offers many tools to aid pronunciation practice. Apps such as “ELSA Speak,” “Speechling,” or “Sounds: The Pronunciation App” provide learners with immediate feedback on their pronunciation and allow them to practice at their own pace. Using these apps in class or as part of homework can reinforce the lessons learned during face-to-face sessions. Teachers can guide students on how to use these apps effectively and track their progress.
6. Incorporate Pronunciation Drills with Rhythm and Stress
Practicing rhythm, stress, and intonation is essential for helping learners speak more naturally. Integrating activities like “jazz chants,” where learners repeat rhythmic phrases set to a beat, can be both fun and effective. Stress drills, where students emphasize different syllables in multisyllabic words or in sentences, help them develop an ear for natural speech patterns. This is especially useful for languages that do not have a stress-timed rhythm like English does.
7. Provide Personalized Feedback
Pronunciation improvement is most effective when teachers offer personalized feedback. Adult learners benefit from understanding exactly where they need to improve, so recording students’ speech and analyzing it together can be highly beneficial. Providing feedback on areas like vowel length, pitch, or consonant accuracy gives learners concrete areas to work on. Teachers can also encourage peer feedback, where students listen to each other’s pronunciation and offer constructive suggestions.
8. Make It Fun: Gamify Pronunciation Practice
Games can turn pronunciation practice into a fun and engaging activity. Consider using games such as “Pronunciation Tic-Tac-Toe,” where students practice target sounds in different words, or “Tongue Twister Challenges” to enhance fluency and sound accuracy. Additionally, role-playing activities where students use specific vocabulary and phrases in realistic scenarios can help them apply their pronunciation skills in meaningful contexts.
9. Emphasize Pronunciation in Context
Instead of isolating sounds, practice pronunciation within the context of real-life communication. Encourage students to focus on pronunciation during speaking activities that simulate everyday situations, such as ordering food, giving directions, or participating in a meeting. This helps learners see the practical importance of pronunciation and makes the practice more relevant and purposeful.
10. Encourage Regular Pronunciation Practice Outside the Classroom
Encouraging learners to practice pronunciation outside of lessons is essential for sustained improvement. Suggest activities like shadowing podcasts or videos, where they listen to native speakers and repeat phrases, or reading aloud from books or articles. Establishing a regular routine of practice, even for just 10-15 minutes a day, can lead to significant progress over time.
Conclusion
Helping adult language learners improve their pronunciation is a rewarding aspect of teaching English. By incorporating diverse techniques that range from using phonemic charts to gamifying pronunciation practice, teachers can make lessons engaging and accessible. The key is to make learners aware of how they produce sounds and provide varied opportunities for practice in and outside the classroom. As learners gain confidence in their pronunciation, they will be able to communicate more effectively and feel empowered in their language learning journey.
