Teaching and learning resources

Teaching Pathways:
How to teach
pronunciation
www.teachingenglish.org.uk #TeachingPathways
Module 1
Understanding pronunciation
Overview
This module explored the sound system of English and the different elements of pronunciation
way sounds function within it. The module also looked at how
• transcribed words into phonemic script with the help of
to describe the key aspects of pronunciation and relate
a pronunciation chart
these to the teaching of pronunciation.
• related your knowledge of phonology to the teaching of
While completing this module, you:
pronunciation.
• learned the key concepts used in describing the

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Resource name (click/tap to open) Type
Activity to help students recognise and produce short and long vowel sounds activity

Telephone number pronunciation: Activity practising discrete vowel sounds activity

LearnEnglish Sounds Right: The British Council’s free pronunciation chart app (iOS/android) app

Global English and the teaching of pronunciation article

Young learners and the phonemic chart article

Using the phonemic chart for autonomous learning article

Pronunciation - the poor relation? Article by Adrian Underhill on the neglect of pronunciation teaching article

Core activities for using the chart to integrate pronunciation - article by Adrian Underhill with practical ideas article

Marcus, Chris and Rebecca discuss use of phonemic charts, accent and English as a lingua franca Facebook Live

Downloadable pronunciation posters of phonemic symbols printable

Mini English lesson: stress time and weak forms video

Mini English lesson: word stress video

Adrian Underhill: Proprioception in learning new sounds, words and connected speech (seminar) video

Advice for teachers and examples from the classroom for teaching stress and intonation video

Discussion about using the phonemic chart in lessons video

2 Teaching pathways: How to teach pronunciation #TeachingPathways

Module 2
Engaging with pronunciation – individual
sounds

Overview
This module introduced us to some ways of preventing difficult for your learners
pronunciation difficulties and correcting your students’
• used a range of activities to give your learners practice
pronunciation of individual sounds. You also experienced
in pronouncing problematic individual sounds
and evaluated a range of activities designed to practise
problematic sounds. • used effective techniques to prevent poor pronunciation
of individual sounds from developing
While completing this module, you:
• used effective techniques to correct mispronunciation
• identified the individual sounds of English that are most
of individual sounds.

Further reading,
Table title goes here teaching, and learning resources

Resource name (click/tap to open) Type

Tongue twister classroom activities activity

Integrating pronunciation into classroom activities article

David Dodgson: Pronunciation - no big deal blog post

Sandy Millin: Advanced pronunciation (features of connected speech to focus on with advanced learners) blog post

Mini English lesson: minimal pairs video

Advice for teachers and examples from the classroom for teaching individual sounds video

What to teach before you teach sounds - seminar by Piers Messum introducing the articulatory approach to video
pronunciation

Doing things with sounds: Practical pronunciation activities for your classroom - seminar by Mark Hancock video
looking at individual sounds, e.g. experimenting and imagining, or playing and communicating with them

Jane Setter’s 2017 IATEFL plenary talk looking at intonation in English language teaching video

#TeachingPathways Teaching Pathways: How to teach pronunciation 3

Module 3
Engaging with pronunciation – techniques
and activities

Overview
This module helped you understand how to integrate
pronunciation practice in the classroom. The module looked
at various aspects of pronunciation including stress,
intonation and features of connected speech. You
experienced and evaluated activities, and planned how to
integrate pronunciation activities with other aspects of
language learning.
• recognise and highlight various aspects of pronunciation
including stress, intonation and features of connected
speech
• evaluate pronunciation activities
• integrate pronunciation practice within classroom
activities.

While completing this module, you learned how to:

Further
Table reading,
title goes here teaching, and learning resources
Resource name (click/tap to open) Type

Pronunciation of past simple verbs activity

Rhyming pair game activity

Developing pronunciation through songs article

Pronunciation in the English language classroom is more than just ‘listen and repeat’ article

Rachael Roberts: Planning for pronunciation blog post

Marcus and Karen discuss classroom pronunciation activities Facebook Live

Staffroom poster with ideas for teaching pronunciation printable

Classroom demonstration of ‘chants’ and ‘rounds’ for pronunciation video

Pronunciation Teaching: muscle, mind, meaning, memory - webinar explaining how we can approach webinar
pronunciation teaching from four angles with the mnemonic labels of muscle, mind, meaning and memory

4 Teaching pathways: How to teach pronunciation

Your tips for teachers

‘’
I teach preschoolers. I help my
kids to see, hear and feel the
difference between individual
‘’
Students of all levels love tongue
twisters; Upper levels can use
difficult sounds when coming up
sounds - I tell them to pay close with their own versions.
attention to the shape of the lips Joanna Meyerstein
and position of the tongue, which

‘’
helps them to pronounce sounds.
Opeyemi Falola
Start by creating activities that

‘’
help learners notice the different
sounds.
Teachers should research sounds Yu Lay

and words their learners find
difficult to pronounce.
Rasheedat Sadiq
‘’
It is a good idea to practice the
pronunciation yourself before you

‘’
see your students.
Mustafe Makhtal

‘’
Emphasise specific pronunciation
features in listening activities by
providing learners with tasks that
My students are aged 6-11, we
require them to notice, and write
usually listen to songs and chants
down, and compare what they
to improve rhythm, intonation and
hear with other learners.
connected speech.
Marcelo
Rosanna Canova

‘’
I and my students really love
tongue twisters. We use them as a
warmer or as a password to enter
the class every lesson.
Sulis Syahputra
‘’
I explain about the position of the
tongue, lips and teeth for good
pronunciation and use gestures to
help learners understand.
Pedro Garcia

#TeachingPathways Teaching Pathways: How to teach pronunciation 5

What are you going to do next?
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• join other free online courses
for teachers
• follow #TeachingPathways.

Photography credits

Pages 1, 2, 3 , 4 © Mat Wright

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