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Help students distinguish between minimal pairs to improve pronunciation accuracy from "summary" of Teaching American English Pronunciation - Oxford Handbooks for Language Teachers by Susan Ehrlich,Peter Avery
When teaching American English pronunciation, it is crucial to help students distinguish between minimal pairs. Minimal pairs are pairs of words that differ by only one sound, such as "ship" and "sheep." By focusing on these subtle differences, students can improve their pronunciation accuracy and develop a better understanding of the nuances of the English language. One effective way to help students differentiate between minimal pairs is through focused practice and repetition. By repeatedly contrasting similar words, students can train their ears to detect subtle differences in pronunciation. This repetition helps students develop a more acute awareness of the specific sounds that distinguish one word from another. In addition to practice, providing visual aids can also be beneficial in helping students differentiate between minimal pairs. Visual aids, such as phonetic symbols or diagrams illustrating mouth and tongue positions, can help students see and understand the physical differences in articulation that result in distinct sounds. By incorporating visual elements into pronunciation practice, teachers can enhance students' comprehension and retention of subtle pronunciation distinctions. Furthermore, incorporating listening exercises into pronunciation instruction can help students develop their ability to discern between minimal pairs. Listening exercises can involve playing recordings of words with minimal pair distinctions and asking students to identify which word they hear. This type of activity can help students sharpen their listening skills and reinforce their understanding of the specific sounds that differentiate similar words.- By guiding students through focused practice, providing visual aids, and incorporating listening exercises, teachers can help students distinguish between minimal pairs and improve their pronunciation accuracy. Through these targeted activities, students can develop a more precise understanding of English pronunciation and enhance their overall language proficiency.
