Essential Phonetics for English Language Teachers

Published 2015.

Essential Phonetics for English Language Teachers is for teachers who are unsure of their skills in and their approach to pronunciation teaching, or who have regarded articulatory phonetics as obscure theory up to now. This booklet fulfills its title, dispensing with academic detail and lengthy practice sections. Indeed, as the sounds of phonemes and more can be accessed on the Internet no audio component is included. The focus is on the ability to recognize and correct errors, particularly those that can't be corrected by 'listen and repeat' instruction alone. Notable innovations include vowel charts for both British and American accents (plus references to other varieties of English), custom-designed vocal tract diagrams and examples of simple, effective boardwork. Common learner difficulties and tips on teaching activities feature regularly.

For the busy teacher this booklet provides the perfect opportunity to enhance their continuous professional development.

For the trainee it provides an overview of what pronunciation teaching involves while building skills rapidly in this area.

Penston uses his typical no-nonsense style of presenting information in a concise yet easily comprehensible way. The result is a unique, incredibly compact and valuable work.