Pronunciation, EFL 055-C01
Instructor: Karen Stanley Office: Central High 351 Phone: 704-330-6604
Email: <karen.stanley@cpcc.edu>
Website: http://karen.stanley.people.cpcc.edu
The best way to reach me is by email. Because I teach a lot of hours, attend meetings, and may have
appointments with other students, if you need to talk to me in person it is best to decide together on a good
day and time to meet.
Textbook and Materials
Text: Targeting Pronunciation, 2nd edition, by Sue Miller
Online audio tracks for our book:
http://www.cengage.com/cgiwadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=9780618444182
Course Objectives
A student who successfully completes this course will
1. Have done a self-assessment of pronunciation and identified individual pronunciation goals.
2. Better recognize and produce stress and intonation patterns for different types of syllables, thought
groups, and sentences.
3. Better recognize and produce the components of elided speech, including linking words and reducing
vowel sounds in unstressed syllables.
4. Better recognize and produce individual vowel and consonant sounds.
Evaluation
Attendance = 65% of your grade
Assignments = 35% of your grade
Attendance: We will do a lot of important work in class, so your attendance is very important. Your
grade for attendance will be based on the percentage of classes attended.
Students who arrive 10 or more minutes late for a class or leave 10 or more minutes early
are welcome to attend, but will be counted as absent for grading purposes.
Assignments: Your assignment grade will be based on the percentage of assignments completed on time
and according to the instructions.
Because different language backgrounds, exposure to English, and level of English fluency can have a
significant effect on pronunciation, students should concentrate on their own improvement rather than
comparing themselves to other students. For this reason, assignments are counted as either completed or
not completed rather than receiving a letter or numerical grade.
Course Outline
Weeks 1-4
Introduction
Course organization & requirements
Textbook introduction and Chapter 1 (Improving Your Pronunciation)
Read textbook pp x-xiii to learn about realistic expectations of yourself
Answer questions based on the reading, page 1
Goal setting
Listening survey
Background information
Small talk & related student activities
Speech recording and related exercises
Read advice on priorities, pronunciation habits, and practice tips
Work on "Preparing for Talk Times"
Chapter 2 (Stressing Syllables and Speaking Clearly)
Word stress
Unstressed syllables and schwa
Partner Practice
Listening and pronunciation exercises
End-of-sentence Intonation
Exercises
Predicting Stress
Dictionaries and pronunciation
Exercises
Talk times
Self-study
Weeks 5-8
Chapter 3 (Pronunciation Basics)
Finishing Words and Syllables
Thought groups
Focus Words
Practice Exercises
Talk Times - On Your Own
Reading aloud pronunciation practice
Listening/pronunciation dictation practice
Chapter 4 (Stress and Unstress)
Sentence stress and practice exercises
Focus words (basic stress pattern) and practice exercises
Changes in Focus (new information) and practice exercises
Finishing up
Talk Times - On Your Own
Weeks 9-12
Chapter 5 (Vowels and Speech Rhythm)
Reviewing unstressed vowel / schwa and exercises
Clear and Unclear vowels and exercises
Unstressed syllables with clear vowels and exercises
Longer words & light stress with exercises
Finishing up
Talk times - On Your Own
Chapter 6 (The Speech Pathway)
Parts of the speech pathway
Physical aspects of sound production and exercises
Focus on specific sounds
Finishing Up
Talk Times - On Your Own
There is no final exam for this class.