UNIVERSIDAD DE PANAMÁ

CENTRO REGIONAL UNIVERSITARIO DE VERAGUAS

ENGLISH SCHOOL
ENGLISH COURSE SYLLABUS
PHONETICS (PRONUNCIATION)

General Information:
Course: Phonetics (Pronunciation) 120a
Semester: First-2024
Professor: Carla Patricia Castillo Calviño, Mariela Medina and Layda Núñez

Justification
This course is of paramount importance since a person who speaks English with bad
pronunciation cannot be understood by others and thus cannot communicate with
other people effectively.

Description:
During this course, students will have the opportunity to learn to pronounce English
consonants correctly and know the places and manners of articulation, allowing
them to speak much better English and transmit the acquired knowledge to others.
Students must only pronounce sounds, words, phrases, and sentences in American
English. There are written parts that include transcriptions, but the main focus of the
course is American English pronunciation.

Objectives:
• To recognize the parts of the speech mechanism.
• To recognize the places and manners of articulation.
• To articulate consonant sounds in isolation and context in American English.
• To transcribe consonant sounds in words.
• To pronounce transcribed sounds.

Content:

Module # 1 Language and the Speech Mechanism (1 week)

Language
Definition
Function
Communication
Phonetics

The Speech Mechanism

The larynx
The vocal cords
The pharynx
The mouth
The lips
The tongue
The teeth
The nose

Module # 2. Places of Articulation (4 weeks)

Places of Articulation
Bilabial [p, b, w]
Labio-dental [ f, v]
Dental, Interdental [θ,ð]
Alveolar [d,t]
Velar [k, g]

Module # 3. Manners of Articulation (4 weeks)

Stops / plosives [p, t, k]
Post alveolar (fricatives and affricates, [s, z, h]
Fricatives [ʃ,ʒ]
Affricates [tʃ,dʒ]

Module # 4: Nasals, approximants, glides and Transcription (4 weeks)

Nasals [m, n, ŋ]
Approximants (retroflex and lateral) [r,l]
Semivowels or semiconsonants (glides) [j, w]
Transcription
Project (assignment-part of the 20% of in-class practice and participation)
Methodology:
It will be active. Students are expected to participate in oral and written practice.
They are required to practice the pronunciation of the provided material over and
over, listen to the audio files, watch the videos, and read the theory to get a better
understanding of the topics, participate in class, and pass the course. They need to
attend classes regularly to get knowledge and feedback from the professor. The main
focus of the practice will be pronunciation.

Resources:
• Multimedia equipment
• Slides
• Internet
• E-book
• Online dictionary with phonetic symbols
• Videos
• Audio files

Evaluation:
◼ Diagnostic: Questions and answers
◼ Formative: Oral and written practice and exercises (drills included)
◼ Summative:

Homework 10%
In class practice and exercises 15%
Project 10%
 Mid-term tests (3) 30%
Final exam 35%

Bibliography:

• CELCE-MURCIA, M., BRINTON, D., GOODWIN, J. Teaching Pronunciation: A

Reference For Teachers Of English To Speakers Of Other Languages.
Cambridge University Press.

• DALE, P. & POMS, L. English Pronunciation Made Simple. Pearson Education.

• HEWINGS, M. & SHARON G. Pronunciation Plus. Practice through Interaction.

Cambridge University Press.

• PRATOR, C. and ROBINETT, B. Manual of American English Pronunciation.

Harcourt Brace & Company.

Web sites:
• https://www.youtube.com/user/rachelsenglish
• https://www.youtube.com/user/accentsway
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNmQim1VX0mtyRH8Oe7bSSA
• https://ipa.typeit.org/
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/