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This textbook, which has been of invaluable help to me in my teaching of English as a Second Language, all levels, delves into the following areas:
- Pronunciation: Introduction to Perspective
- The Sound System of North American English: An Overview
- Intersections of the Sound System with other Areas of Language
- Issues in Implementation
In addition, the text contains diagnostic tools and assessment measures, gives suggestions for syllabus design, and offers an overview of teaching issues from the perspective of different methodologies and second language acquisition research. Discussion questions encourage students regarding their experiences in language learning. Follow-up exercises guide teachers in developing classroom activities.
This book is an especially good resource for teacher educators because the authors suggest ways in which teachers can deal with the phonetic sound system within a communicative teaching context that includes the accuracy-fluency component. I’m particularly impressed with questions and exercises that encourage teachers to include their own personal language learning and teaching experiences of the topics to be discussed. The accompanying audio resource provides opportunities to develop transcription skills, to assess ESL/EFL learners’ pronunciation, and to develop original exercises.
Teaching Pronunciation offers current and prospective teachers of English a comprehensive treatment of pronunciation pedagogy, drawing on both current theory and practice. I particularly enjoyed an overview of teaching issues from the perspective of different methodologies and second language acquisition research. I was able to improvise on innovative teaching techniques. Of paramount importance and where this book differs from other texts I’ve used, it provided a thorough grounding to the sound system of North American English and insight into how this sound system interacts with listening, morphology, and spelling. I learned how to implement, along with my colleagues, diagnostic tools and assessment measures. Finally, it helped me at all of my student levels from grade school to college, which is no small task.
References
Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., & Goodwin, J. M. (2010). Teaching pronunciation : A reference for teachers of English to speakers of other languages. Cambridge University Press.
Joan Ramirez holds a Master of Science in Business, Medical, and Technical Journalism as well as two others in ESL and Education. She has published on a variety of topics from cochlear implants to the economy and has conducted workshops –domestic and foreign–on the nuances of business communications for managers and start-up companies. She is the leader of her own enterprise with training programs (over twenty-five years of expertise) for entrepreneurs at all levels--jlregenenterprises. For many years she trained the technical staff of a large engineering firm in the nuances of business writing. She developed a handbook to supplement her lectures: THE WRITE RULES. Visit her website atjoansbookshelf.com and sign up for her newsletter JLR News. She has taught ESL in Vietnam, Seoul, Hong Kong and other countries. |
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