An overview of pronunciation teaching materials

Magdalena Wrembel (Poznań)

Materials for the teaching of pronunciation have changed significantly over the past 50 years with a major shift from an emphasis on accurate production of discrete segments to a focus on broader aspects of communication. However, it remains a largely unexplored question whether and how material designers have responded to most recent challenges for foreign language pedagogy, redefined goals and changing perspectives on pronunciation teaching.

This presentation is an attempt at an overview of English pronunciation teaching materials including selected textbooks as well as commercially available computer software and Internet web sites from the perspective of a model accent taught through these materials. The paper points to characteristic patterns of change concerning the availability of different model accents as well as establishing specific pronunciation teaching priorities in syllabus design.

The article discusses also different attempts at defining features indispensable in the pronunciation syllabus as advocated by leading pronunciation educators including e.g. Stockwell and Bowen (1965), Prator (1971), Stevick (1978), Brown (1988), Bogle (1996), Jenner (1999), and Jenkins (2000). Furthermore, it explores how such proposals of minimally sufficient phonological systems relate to or differ from the Lingua Franca Core model and if they are reflected at all in the pedagogical materials available on the market.

Biliography:

Bogle, D. 1996 Practical Phonology, Edinburgh: Moray House Publications.

Brown, A. 1988 Functional load and the teaching of pronunciation. TESOL Quarterly 22: 593-606.

Jenkins, J. 2000. The Phonology of English as an International Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Jenner, B. 1989 Teaching Pronunciation: The Common Core, Speak Out, Phonology SIG Newsletter No 4, 2-4.

Stockwell, R. P. & Bowen, J. 1965 The Sounds of English and Spanish. Chicago: The University of Chicago.

Stevick, E. 1978 Toward a practical philosophy of pronunciation: Another view. TESOL Quarterly. 12 (2), 145-150.