Week 9 Jennifer Jenkins

The article researched pronunciation syllabus, the field that I have been struggling for a long time. However, I felt better after reading this article, because I assured that non-native English speaking teachers(NNEST) should play a different role from native English speaking teachers(NEST). It is not easy for non-native English speakers(NNS) to acquire the pronunciation of EIL. That is why NNEST is necessary to help students by different way from NEST.

I am interested in some researches in the article, especially, examples of pronunciation-based miscommunication in interlanguage talk. It is well known for many Japanese people not to well pronounce the difference between “l” and “r” or “s” and “θ.” I know that the Japanese speaker in the research could not make himself understood in English, “Shakespeare’s birthplace.” The sound of birthplace for Japanese people sounds like “bathplace.” For example, it is also difficult for me to pronounce the difference between “bath” and “bus.” The other day I wanted to say to my friend, “I was taking a bath when you called me.” However, for my friend it sounded that I was taking a bus, so she was confused and our conversation did not make sense well. In order to improve my English pronunciation, I have been taking the pronunciation lessons since I came to IUP. It was not until I took the lesson how important the shape of my mouth was when I pronounced English words. In addition, as Jenkins indicates in her research, there are many phonological errors in NNS conversations. I think non-native speakers, especially NNEST should know these phonological errors and try to practice correcting pronunciation. Then, it enables them to help students to improve their speaking.

In the article, Jenkins says that the best teachers can do is to draw learners’ attention receptively to these items to prime learners for future acquisition outside the classroom, should the possibility of extended exposure present itself.(p.98) I agree with her opinion, but how should NNEST do that? For instance, how should NNEST help students acquire the proper pronunciation? Whenever I read the articles about Introduction to TESOL, I am wondering how I actually do each theory in my classroom. I think it is necessary for NNEST to improve their English skills first. I can understand NNEST play a different role in teaching English from NEST. NNEST should have more confidence in teaching English. However, I have little knowledge how I should teach English more effectively. I try to read and think more, then I talk about it to other people.