You have a choice of two options for this assignment:.
"Intelligible pronunciation is an essential component of communicative competence" (Morley 1991).
Do you consider this to be a useful quotation, in terms of how you might wish to develop a policy for including pronunciation teaching in the English Department at your institution? Consider (as a minimum) the following aspects in your essay:.
a) What is meant by 'intelligible'?.
b) Is pronunciation really such an 'essential' component of communicative competence?.
c) What percentage of the syllabus can be devoted to pronunciation?.
d) Do non-native speakers have the confidence to devote time to it?.
e) How do we go about teaching 'intelligible pronunciation'? What resources (apart from human) would you consider using?.
OPTION B.
Find two books on pronunciation teaching (or two Pronunciation sections from books that cover general teaching issues) that seem to you to advocate very distinct approaches in the classroom. For example, The Pronunciation Book by Bowen & Marks or 'Sound Foundations' by Adrian Underhill seem very different from a book such as Ship and Sheep by Baker. Review the two books in the following ways:.
(a) Describe the general approach of the books/sections - segmental, suprasegmental, exposure-based, explanation-based, humanistic, drill-based, teacher-centred, student-centred, traditional, unusual, uses phonemic symbols, pays attention to phonological issues, etc.
(b) Which do you prefer? Why? Do you prefer one to another because of your pedagogic situation (Brinton's first variable) or because of the type of person and teacher that you are? (Brinton's 3rd variable) Do you see problems in one of the approaches/methods? What sort of contexts (students, courses and institutions) are implied by the books/sections?.
Important: you have to write your personal details and the subject name on the cover (see the next page).