Pronunciation teaching techniques

Teaching pronunciation is more than just knowing the phonemic symbols and having a chart on the wall of your classroom. Effective pronunciation teaching involves making pronunciation a priority throughout your course and gradually building students' awareness and confidence. Here are some tips to help (in no particular order!):

• Speak naturally and not too slowly (but control the CONTENT and CONTEXT of your speech)
• Listen first, learn to hear differences, only then try to replicate sounds
• Encourage, and be careful not to humiliate, but make it fun
• Develop your knowledge of Italian-specific problems and use purpose-written materials if necessary
• Use the stuff in your course-book, if relevant for Italians
• Integrate pronunciation teaching and techniques wherever it would be useful
• Use minimal pairs to isolate and practice discrete sounds
• Practise pronunciation in context, where possible
• Don’t focus just on phonemes, look at speech on a more “macro” scale
• Illustrate problems using IPA (international phonemic alphabet), stress marks, intonation symbols, etc.
• Prioritise good pronunciation in class, and praise it (not just correct grammar)
• Teach students to record relevant pronunciation features of new language
• Give feedback on pronunciation after spoken elements of the lesson
• Use controlled practice activities like drilling
• Teach questions like “How do you pronounce this?”
• Use dictionaries as a pronunciation resource
• Distinguish between “conscious” and “subconscious” learning and make sure you know which you are promoting