Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h23N0LP09210; Mon, 3 Mar 2003 18:00:21 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 18:00:21 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <001101c2e1d8$8e0b83a0$6501a8c0@cableone.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Richard Russell" <richtiger@cableone.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:8722] Explicit early teaching of pronunciation? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 1376 Lines: 26 Well, I'm too quick to hit the delete button sometimes, so I've lost the post from the gentleman who argued for early, emphatic, explicit teaching of pronunciation. This is a discussion I've been in before and no doubt I ought to make a trip to the library to see what the current research is on pronunciation and the teaching thereof. Twenty years ago, I believe, the research consensus was that a "silent period" of some sort was not only harmless as regards developing good pronunciation but in fact preferable. Of course, each student and each instructor should do what works best for him or her. So, for example, ALM (the audiolingual method) is very much out of vogue; but it worked very well for me when I started studying Spanish. For most students, ALM would not be the preferred entry into Spanish or English. I guess I was the exception to the rule. But to return to pronunciation. I'd just argue that for a few weeks, at least, teachers should work on comprehension as opposed to production. Having done that, I believe that explanations of pronunciation, pronunciation drills, and reading aloud will be easier and more effective. However, I'd be glad to have any scholars out there save me a trip to the library and bring me up to date with research citations that will either tend to support my view or rebut it. Richard Russell richtiger@cableone.net
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