Proper pronunciation is a must to be able to speak English and be understood by listeners. Correct pronunciation is extremely important in communication.
There are many people who have spent a long time learning English and have a good basic foundation but are still very limited in English pronunciation. This is a fairly common problem. So is mispronunciation the learner's fault?
- In pronunciation, English has basic characteristics that are very different from Vietnamese
Vietnamese is a monosyllabic language so there is no word stress. English is a multisyllabic language with complex characteristics of stress and intonation. Words with two or more syllables have stress falling on certain syllables, which are read with more emphasis than the remaining syllables.
Mispronunciation - whose fault is it?
- "Losing" wind sounds and final sounds are the two most common mistakes Vietnamese people make when speaking English.
Because the concepts of wind and final sounds do not exist in Vietnamese. To pronounce these sounds is not difficult, the problem is that the speaker must be aware of their appearance and overcome their incorrect pronunciation habits.
- Sound connection
Because we do not pronounce the final sounds of words, we also "ignore" the phenomenon of connecting sounds in English. This not only makes it difficult for us to read, but also makes it difficult for listeners to recognize the words we want to say.
- Make it easy to understand
Because English has different characteristics, Vietnamese people often "Vietnamese" it so that it can be heard and spoken more easily understood in the community. This unintentionally causes us to mispronounce a lot, which sounds very funny and of course foreigners don't understand.
- English teaching methods in Vietnam
In our country today, they are generally taken grammar and vocabulary Based on grammar and vocabulary tests, the foundation for effective English learning lies in pronunciation. That's why students flock to study grammar. 12 years of compulsory education are mainly learning grammar but not being able to communicate a word of English.
Mispronunciation - whose fault is it?
- Lack of accurate documentation
Most English teaching materials in our country are translated from foreign documents. There is no system of documents specifically compiled for Vietnamese people learning English, suitable for the characteristics of Vietnamese and Vietnamese speaking habits. Therefore, Vietnamese people seem to be unable to access pronunciation learning from foreign books.
- Listen a lot
Listening to a lot of material is the best way to correct pronunciation errors. When you listen to the most accurate sound source, your ears and brain will absorb them naturally. You will realize how these words should be pronounced correctly and correct your own mistakes.
- Know where the cause is wrong
One of the ways to improve mistakes is to know where you are going wrong. You need to know what pronunciation errors you are making and what correct pronunciation should actually be. If you can do this, your path to correcting mistakes will be much easier.
- Speak English every day
Speaking ability will be affected the most if you do not practice regularly. Pronunciation will be distorted, even wrong, after a period of time if you don't practice. Therefore, after you have adjusted your pronunciation, constantly practice speaking in front of the mirror or with your friends.
Mispronunciation can come from many different factors. But there is only hard work and understanding tThe important part of correct pronunciation is to help you correct errors. I wish you early success!