TEACHING PHONETICS TO ENHANCE PRONUNCIATION IN AN ESL CLASSROOM
This paper highlights the importance of English pronunciation for an ESL learner while speaking the language to a native speaker as well as understanding the context of another English speaker. This paper also throws light upon the importance of phonetics in teaching pronunciation. The researcher attempts to find out the factors affecting English pronunciation of ESL learners by conducting an experiment on Indian university level students as samples. The selection of student sample is done through purposive sampling technique. Based on the observations obtained from the experiment conducted by the researcher, the necessary methods and techniques that is feasible and adaptable for the learners to enhance their English pronunciation based on CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) theory is suggested. Acquiring native like pronunciation is not a short term process. A few effective methods like drilling and minimal pair techniques will help language teachers to gradually give the learners an insight about the English sound system and support in the development of spontaneous speaking.