MS2-Practical English Phonetics

obligatory courses

Classroom

The main objective of the course "Practical English Phonetics" is acquainting students with the British English system of sounds (RP), recognising sounds in terms of their quality and length, developing correct pronunciation of vowels, consonants and dipthongs. After having been acquainted with the international phonetic alphabet, student will be equipped with the tool of conscious parameteres in the act of speech. Within the subject listening and fluent speaking skills will be practised. Some technigues of teaching pronunciation in early education will be presented and practised.

Within the subject there will be presented and discussed the following isssues:

- the international phonetic alphabet;

- the characteristics of vowels, consonants and dipthongs;

- improving the pronunciation of vowels in isolation, in speech and writing;

- improving the pronunciation of consonants in isolation, in speech and writing;

- improving the pronunciation of dipthongs in isolation, in speech and writing;

- acquainting with the system of stress and intonation in English;

- differentiating the length of vowels;

- excercises in minimal pairs' recognition and production;

- reading the phonetic transcription;

- writing the phonetic transcription;

- initial exercises on sentence intonation;

- simple pronunciation exercises in early education.

Baker, A. 2003. Ship or Sheep?. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Ponsonby, M. 2004. How Now, Brown Cow - a course in the pronunciation of English, with excercises and dialogues. Prentice Hall Europe, ELT.

Roach. P. 2002. English Phonetics and Phonology. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Wells, J.C. 2004. Pronunciation Dictionary. Longman Ltd.

After successful completion of the course, the student:

- knows the system of vowels, consonants and dipthongs in English;

- can produce correctly vowels, dipthongs and consonants within the British English (RP);

- reads correctly the phonetic transcription in English;

- writes correctly the phonetic transcription in English;

- evaluates the correctness of words pronunciation in British English;

- identifies the errors and mistakes in pronunciation, corrects them;

- appreciates the importance of correct pronunciation teaching in early language education;

- can create simple pronunciation activities for the students in early education;

- integrates the pronunciation activities within the other aspects of early language education.

The learning outcomes will be evaluated after:

- completing 3 tests in the semester (student is obliged to achieve 65% in each of them);

- preparing tasks based on the discussed and obligatory material;

- active participation in the classes.

Each student is allowed to be absent max. 2 times in the semester.