Interactive IPA Chart to Improve English Pronunciation of ESL Students – An Experimental Study

Abstract

Achieving goals practically in a reproducible way by applying knowledge is possible using technology. Teaching English is not an exception in applying technology for effective results. In the field of English Language Teaching (ELT), very few teachers focus on teaching English pronunciation. Though this aspect of ELT is rare, it has become a vital aspect of ELT in today’s world due to globalization of English language and enormous use of English in everyday life. The present time can be considered as a golden era for learning as our lives are aided by technology. As we use technology abundantly every day, it is not wrong to use the same for learning. In fact, teaching and learning can be effective when they are aided by technology. Moreover, CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) is one of the approaches in ELT, used widely by innovative teachers and learners of English, proved to be an efficient approach than traditional methods of teaching IPA. So, the present work is focused on teaching English pronunciation for ESL students using interactive IPA chart assisted by pre-test, intervention study, and post-test to analyse and attempt to meet the needs of students in learning English pronunciation. In order to check the effectiveness of the use of IPA chart, first, a pre-test was conducted with words focusing the pronunciation of all the 44 sounds of English to analyse the deviation of students’ pronunciation from the Received Pronunciation (RP). Then, based on the outcome of pre-test, an intervention study was conducted to provide the necessary input to address the students’ pronunciation problems. At this stage, students were taught all the 44 sounds of English using interactive IPA chart, so that they can clearly distinguish the differences between the sounds of English and the sounds of their mother-tongue. These subtle differences are often not paid attention due to ignorance, confusion, mispronunciation and mother-tongue influence. After proper leaning is achieved by the students, a post-test was conducted which helped to analyse the improvement in students’ pronunciation. Upon achieving improved performance in students’ pronunciation, it can be clearly concluded that use of interactive IPA chart in teaching English pronunciation for ESL students is one of the innovative ways to teach English pronunciation to the students with effectiveness and ease. This would really help the future teachers of English and students.