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English Pronunciation Challenges Facing Turkish Learners: A Case Study

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 17, 30.06.2021

Abstract

The current study was carried out to probe into both the types and potential causes of problems Turkish learners face in the pronunciation of English numbers and words. The population of this descriptive research study was the English Language Teaching (ELT) freshmen in the 2019-2020 academic year. As part of convenience sampling method, a total of 70 freshmen from the two ELT classes, including 51 females and 19 males, were included in the study.
Early in the spring semester, the students were given a list of 50 numbers and 50 words commonly used in English. They were then asked to read each number and pronounce the word following that number. They were recorded via a voice-recorder as they were articulating the numbers and the words. The statistical analysis of the data collected via recordings provided feedback with regard to the students’ current level of mastery of English pronunciation and enabled the researcher to unearth and categorize the types of pronunciation problems facing the ELT students. The study’s overall outcome is expected to spark eager and unflagging interest in both learners and teachers toward new ways and means to learn and teach English pronunciation much more effectively.

References

  • Alghazo, S. (2015). Advanced Learners’ Beliefs about Pronunciation Teaching. International Education Studies, 8 (11), 63-76.
  • Chan, M. (1987). Phrase by Phrase: Pronunciation and Listening in American English. Prentice-Hall, Inc.: Prentice Hall Regents.
  • Demirezen, M. (2008). The /æ/ And /ʌ/ Phonemes As Fossilized Pronunciation Errors For Turkish English Language Teachers And Students: Undoing The Fossilized Pronunciation Error. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 4 (2), 73-82.
  • Gilakjani, A. P., Sheikhy, R., Montashery, I., & Alizadeh, M. (2019). A Mixed Method Study of Teachers’ Attitudes towards Computer Pronunciation Software in Teaching English Pronunciation. International Journal of Instruction, 12 (1), 821-840.
  • Gilbert, J. B. (2005). Clear Speech: Pronunciation and Listening Comprehension in North American English (Third Edition). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hancock, M. (2003). English Pronunciation in Use: Self-study and classroom use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hewings, Martin. (2007). English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • CGCC [Columbia Gorge Community College] 2020. The Four Basic Language Skills. Retrieved on 18 October, 2020 from: https://www.cgcc.edu/literacy/resources/four-basic-language-skills#:~:text=Another%20way%20to%20describe%20language,address%20each%20of%20these%20skills.
  • Isbell, D. R. (2019). Diagnosing Second Language Pronunciation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ann Arbor, MI: Michigan State University, ProQuest LLC.
  • Kenworthy, J. (1988). Teaching English Pronunciation (Longman Handbooks for Language Teachers). New York: Longman.
  • Kreidler, C. W. (2004). The Pronunciation of English: A Course Book (Second Edition). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
  • Smith, R. (2015). American English Pronunciation: The Rachel’s English Guide to sounding American by Rachel Smith. Rachel’s English LLC, 2015.
  • Turgay, A. (2016). Pedagogical Translation: Recognition versus Production Skills (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Institute of Social Sciences, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey). Retrieved on 11 August, 2020 from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
  • Turker, H. (2010). Common Mistakes of Turkish Secondary Students in Pronunciation of English Words and Possible Solutions (Unpublished master’s thesis, Institute of Social Sciences, Canakkale 18 Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey). Retrieved on 15 May, 2020 from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
  • Yates, L. & Zielinski, B. (2009). Give it a Go: Teaching Pronunciation to Adults. Commonwealth of Australia: AMEP Research Center.
  • Young, K. S. & Travis, H. P. (2012). Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences (Third Edition). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.

Türk Öğrenicilerin Karşılaştıkları İngilizce Sesletim Zorlukları: Bir Durum Çalışması

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 17, 30.06.2021

Abstract

Mevcut çalışma, Türk öğrenicilerin İngilizce sayıların ve kelimelerin sesletiminde karşılaştıkları sorunların türlerini ve kaynaklarını araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Betimleyici bir araştırma olan bu çalışmanın katılımcıları 2019-2020 akademik yılında Harran Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi İngilizce Öğretmenliği 1. sınıf öğrencileriydi. Kapma örnekleme yönteminin bir sonucu olarak, halihazırda İngilizce Öğretmenliği 1. sınıf seviyesindeki iki şubede bulunan, 51 kadın ve 19 erkekten oluşan, toplam 70 öğrenci çalışmaya katıldı. Bahar yarıyılı başlarında, öğrencilere 1 ile 50 arası 50 sayı ve (tamamı "İngilizce'de en sık kullanılan 3000 kelime" grubundan seçilmiş) 50 kelimeyi içeren bir liste verildi ve “Sesletim Uygulaması” olarak adlandırılan bir sesletim alıştırması kapsamında her kelimenin önündeki sayıyı okumaları ve o sayıyı takip eden kelimeyi seslendirmeleri istendi. Bu okuma/seslendirmeleri yaparlarken öğrencilerin sesleri ses kayıt cihazı ile kaydedildi. Daha sonra sayıları ve kelimeleri ne kadar iyi telaffuz edebildiklerine dair kendilerine tek tek ve sınıf olarak geri bildirimde bulunuldu. Toplanan verilerin istatistiki çözümlemesi, hem öğrencilerin İngilizce sesletim konusundaki mevcut yeterlik düzeyleri ile ilgili geri bildirim sundu ve araştırmacıya da söz konusu öğrencilerin karşılaştıkları ortak telaffuz sorunları ile kaynaklarını belirleme ve sınıflandırma imkanı verdi. Çalışmanın genel sonuçlarının İngilizce öğrenicileri ile öğreticilerinde İngilizce telaffuzu çok daha etkin öğrenmek ve öğretmek amacıyla yeni yöntem ve araçlar arayışına yönelik istekli ve tükenmez bir ilgi uyandırması beklenmektedir.

References

  • Alghazo, S. (2015). Advanced Learners’ Beliefs about Pronunciation Teaching. International Education Studies, 8 (11), 63-76.
  • Chan, M. (1987). Phrase by Phrase: Pronunciation and Listening in American English. Prentice-Hall, Inc.: Prentice Hall Regents.
  • Demirezen, M. (2008). The /æ/ And /ʌ/ Phonemes As Fossilized Pronunciation Errors For Turkish English Language Teachers And Students: Undoing The Fossilized Pronunciation Error. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 4 (2), 73-82.
  • Gilakjani, A. P., Sheikhy, R., Montashery, I., & Alizadeh, M. (2019). A Mixed Method Study of Teachers’ Attitudes towards Computer Pronunciation Software in Teaching English Pronunciation. International Journal of Instruction, 12 (1), 821-840.
  • Gilbert, J. B. (2005). Clear Speech: Pronunciation and Listening Comprehension in North American English (Third Edition). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hancock, M. (2003). English Pronunciation in Use: Self-study and classroom use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hewings, Martin. (2007). English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • CGCC [Columbia Gorge Community College] 2020. The Four Basic Language Skills. Retrieved on 18 October, 2020 from: https://www.cgcc.edu/literacy/resources/four-basic-language-skills#:~:text=Another%20way%20to%20describe%20language,address%20each%20of%20these%20skills.
  • Isbell, D. R. (2019). Diagnosing Second Language Pronunciation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ann Arbor, MI: Michigan State University, ProQuest LLC.
  • Kenworthy, J. (1988). Teaching English Pronunciation (Longman Handbooks for Language Teachers). New York: Longman.
  • Kreidler, C. W. (2004). The Pronunciation of English: A Course Book (Second Edition). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
  • Smith, R. (2015). American English Pronunciation: The Rachel’s English Guide to sounding American by Rachel Smith. Rachel’s English LLC, 2015.
  • Turgay, A. (2016). Pedagogical Translation: Recognition versus Production Skills (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Institute of Social Sciences, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey). Retrieved on 11 August, 2020 from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
  • Turker, H. (2010). Common Mistakes of Turkish Secondary Students in Pronunciation of English Words and Possible Solutions (Unpublished master’s thesis, Institute of Social Sciences, Canakkale 18 Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey). Retrieved on 15 May, 2020 from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
  • Yates, L. & Zielinski, B. (2009). Give it a Go: Teaching Pronunciation to Adults. Commonwealth of Australia: AMEP Research Center.
  • Young, K. S. & Travis, H. P. (2012). Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences (Third Edition). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
There are 16 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Abdulkadir Turgay 0000-0002-3119-7710

Publication Date June 30, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Turgay, A. (2021). English Pronunciation Challenges Facing Turkish Learners: A Case Study. Harran Maarif Dergisi, 6(1), 1-17.