UNIT 3: PHONOLOGY

It is the study of the sound characteristics of a language (Spratt, M. Pulverness, A. Williams, M, 2014). Spoken English sounds are made up of many smaller sound units, called phonemes: small pieces of sound are the “building blocks of words.” When producing English sounds, it is vital to take into account the most important parts of the mouth: lips, teeth, tongue, and different parts of the top of the mouth. English sounds are divided into two groups; consonants and vowels.  Consonants depend on the place of articulation: where the sound is produced, the manner of articulation: airflow to make a sound, and vocal chords that produce sound or not. Vowels are all voiced and depend on the placement of the tongue in the mouth. In the transcription of words we found phonemic symbols, and word stress.

In my opinion, songs and videos can be used in a classroom in order to help students to practice and produce more characteristic sounds, for example: stress and intonation, and also ask learners to do repetition of models, and minimal pairs. With this activity students are asked to pay attention to the words with similar sounds. For example: thing and think. Through practice learners develop phonological consciousness.

Sources:

-          Spratt M., Pulverness A. & Willians M. (2011). The TKT course.Modules 1,2,3. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

-          Virginia Department of education. (1998). Ideas and activities for developing phonological awareness skills. Retrieved from http://www.senia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/phonological-awareness-by-Lyon.pdf