By Jenny Valeria Madrigal – Education degree student
Is it possible to help our students' pronunciation through everyday actions? Nowadays, it is more widely known that students have different ways of learning, so this helps to open up innovative ideas to improve their way of learning. Not every student has the ability to learn pronunciation like others who may find it easier or are more familiar with the subject. Students need methods that encourage their interest in learning, as well as a method that really helps their knowledge to grow. As teachers, we must look for effective methods for each of our students so having each point clear is important. By having them in mind, the student will possess the tools to exploit that skill that he is reinforcing or improving.
It should be started from the beginning, starting from the basis of pronunciation teaching. There are students who possess knowledge from an early age for various reasons; there are parents who possess knowledge of the language and instill their knowledge in their children from an early age so that they grow up as their second language. Others decide to take their children to bilingual schools so that they develop the language from a very early age, or when children grow up with videogames in English, which makes them strive to expand their vocabulary, in addition to clearly learning to say some words through the videogame. Based on this, you can take an interactive and efficient teaching method for all ages, not just for children or a specific age. There are students who need a little incentive and what better incentive than things they see and hear every day, that encourages participation and interest in learning all this with a good attitude.
With this in mind, we can infer that there are cases of students who do not have the advantages that others have. Some on their own acquire their own knowledge through technology, videogames, music, among others. On the other hand, there are students who do not provide enough support in the classes, so that when they finish their studies they have the minimum of the language, which does not allow them to use it in the labor area, most of them must go to specialized institutes in the language to be able to acquire it. Basically, the problem is present in the teaching methods, especially in the part of pronunciation, since it is not a skill that is born easily in all. It requires time and a good dedication on the part of the teacher and the student. This is where the doubt arises as to how listening can help the student grow in pronunciation.
The most effective way to teach pronunciation is to listen. It is true that we can all learn vocabulary when writing and have the best, but what is the use of having that amount of vocabulary if, at the time of speaking, you cannot apply it because you do not know how to do it? Most people who have videogame vocabulary are because they listen to people talk and say things, which are usually repetitive in videogames. There is no other way to learn pronunciation than by listening, but the problem is that just repeating the teacher's words is not enough for the student to possess the knowledge because of the variety of sounds this language has, which makes it different from Spanish. Students need greater incentives to improve their pronunciation as well as to get interested in learning this. We have the best alternatives every day and the new technological innovations that our time has given us.
Phonics is something that is only given to teachers, but can be a very useful tool for students as they learn that there are different shades of words, and can speed up the whole process of pronunciation in students. In addition, taking advantage of the technology, one could look for a fashionable song, so that the students can identify and learn from it by listening to it and trying to imitate or sing the song little by little. Encouraging them to go to English-language movies or their favorite series can help them become more interested in the language, in addition to being entertained in a way they are already used to. Watching a movie in class is not out of place, it can get the student out of his or her routine and into the mood, which can be one of the best tools for a teacher. As teachers we must adjust to these new times and take advantage of every advantage. Our goal is for our students to learn, and what better way than by adapting teaching to their routine.
