Critical period hypothesis

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 503.

II. The goal of teaching pronunciation

When should we teach phonetic?

Phonetic rules regarding what sounds a letter or a cluster of letters should be pronounced are helpful for students to develop the ability to cope with English pronunciation and they should be introduced at a suitable stage. Beginners of English, specialty young learners, should be avoided to teach phonetic.

1. What's considered as a good pronunciation?

A good pronunciation means:

1) to pronounce correctly all the speech sounds of the language and all the combinations in their proper order not only isolated words, but also in sentences;

2) to pronounce sentences fluently at the speed required by the situation with correct stresses, linking of sounds, rhythm, pauses and intonation.

As a matter of fact, learners of English as a foreign language cannot acquire native-like pronunciation.

Critical period hypothesis states that if humans do not learn a foreign language before a certain age, then due to changes such as maturation of the brain, it becomes impossible to learn the foreign language like a native speaker.

The amount of exposure to English is another factor that determines if the students can acquire native-like English pronunciation.

Individual ability. Due to biological and physiological difference, some students are more sensitive to and better at imitating sounds than others.