Phonetics

As a TEFL teacher do we need to know the phonetic symbols that Spanish people need to pronounce English words correctly? Is there a quick way for me to learn it?

Thanks

Tina

[pyoung]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As a TEFL teacher do we need to know the phonetic symbols that Spanish people need to pronounce English words correctly? Is there a quick way for me to learn it?

Thanks

Tina

Dear Tina:

It depends on your students. With some students, making use of phonetic symbols may be very useful. If, however, in order to use the symbols, you must spend many days or weeks just teaching 1) the concept of phonetic symbols and then, 2) the symbols themselves, I don't think it would be worth your while.
In any case, learning the phonetic alphabet is a good idea for you as a teacher. Many resources you will want to use to further your own skills will use the International Phonetic Alphabet. The very first link on this forum will take you to a phonetic alphabet 'typewriter', and this site:
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/resources/pronunciation/phonemic-chart
will take you to a very helpful interactive chart.

All best wishes,

Petra

[paulmoss]

Dear Tina,
Phonetic symbols are used in dictionaries,and more often than not, they use different symbols, which you can find in the pronunciation guide. If you are a native speaker or have acquired the sound system correctly, the examples will clear things up. As for the learners, they always need a good model, such as a teacher or a recorded voice, and can never work out the pronunciation on their own if they havn't acquired the sounds or traind the ears.
regards

[she's_a_rebel]

We have listened to Daniel Jones's sounds, It was really funny, he prolongs the vowels so much that it seems he's yawning

[paulmoss]

Originally Posted by she's_a_rebel

We have listened to Daniel Jones's sounds, It was really funny, he prolongs the vowels so much that it seems he's yawning

By a recorded voice, I mean the voice of a native or a proficient speaker, if the teacher cannot show the distinction between "Pot" and "putt" for example. Jones' exaggerated pronunciation might help too!