Is it really difficult to produce correct th (/ð / and /θ/) sounds in English for EFL Learners? A case study in Northern Cyprus.

Year 2019, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 926 - 936, 01.10.2019

Halil Ercan Naciye Kunt

https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.631537

Abstract

Please fill up the following information accurately. (Please use Times New Roman, 12 pt.
Is it really difficult to produce correct th (/ð / and /θ/) sounds in English for EFL Learners? A case study in Northern Cyprus
This study investigated how th (/ð / and /θ/) sounds could be improved if opportunities were provided to EFL learners in the Final International University in Girne, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Twelve preparatory students participated in the study. The researcher collected data through a pronunciation test and interviews. The purpose of the pronunciation test was to reveal development and correct pronunciation of th (/ð / and /θ/) sounds by the participants. The performance of twelve participants was video-recorded. In order to increase the validity of the results, two native raters listened to the recordings and rated the problematic sounds as correct or incorrect. After data collection, Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the coded and analysed data, and SPSS (Version 20) was used to find the percentages and the frequencies of the data. The findings indicate that EFL learners could acquire and improve their pronunciation if they feel motivated and are given opportunities. The results of the study are thought to be useful for both students and teachers in Northern Cyprus.
Information about Author(s)*
Author 1
Author (Last name, First name)	Ercan, Halil
Affiliated institution (University)
Country
Email address	[e-mail]
Department & Rank
Corresponding author (Yes/No) Write only one corresponding author.
Author 2
Author (Last name, First name)	Kunt, Naciye
Affiliated institution (University)
Country
Email address	[e-mail]
Department & Rank
Corresponding author (Yes/No)
Author 3
Author (Last name, First name)
Affiliated institution (University)
Country
Email address
Department & Rank
Corresponding author (Yes/No)
Author 4
Author (Last name, First name)
Affiliated institution (University)
Country
Email address
Department & Rank
Corresponding author (Yes/No)

Keywords

Pronunciation problems, EFL learners

References

• Alkhuli, M. A. (1983). English as a foreign language. PhD Dissertation, King Abdul Aziz Public Library. Bayraktaroğlu, S. (2008). Orthographic interference and the teaching of British. pronunciation to Turkish. Learners Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 4(2), 19. Bekleyen, N. (2011). Pronunciation problems of the Turkish EFL learners. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 10(36), 094-107. Demirezen, M., 2007. A model to rehabilitate a fossilized pronunciation error of Turkish English language Teachers: The English consonant phoneme /ŋ/ wrongly articulated as /nk/ through nasal devoicing. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 3(2), pp. 289-303. Hişmanoğlu, M. (2007) [ɔː] and [oʊ] contrast as fossilized pronunciation error of Turkish learners of English and solutions to the problem. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 3(1), 99-115. Karakaş & Sönmez (2011). The teaching of [θ] and [ð] sounds in English. 1st International conference on foreign language teaching and applied linguistics, May 5-7, 2011, Sarajeva. Kenworthy, J. (1987). Teaching English pronunciation. London: Longman. Şenel, M. (2006). Suggestions for beautifying the pronunciation of EFL learners in Turkey. Journal of language and linguistic studies, 2(1), 111-125. O’Connor & Fletcher. (1989). Sounds English, A pronunciation practice book. London: Longman. O’Connor, J. D. (1980). Better English pronunciation (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fletcher Ohata, K. (2004). Phonological differences between Japanese and English: Several potentially problematic areas of pronunciation for Japanese ESL/EFL learners. Asian EFL Journal, 6(4), article 5.