Giving feedback on a student's pronunciation can be tricky. You want to be helpful and encouraging, but also provide specific and actionable advice. This guide offers helpful suggestions on how to comment on a student's pronunciation in a way that's both positive and effective.
Focusing on the Positives: Start with Encouragement
Before diving into areas for improvement, always begin with positive reinforcement. This sets a supportive tone and makes the student more receptive to your feedback.
Examples of Positive Comments:
- "Your pronunciation is improving significantly! I can hear you working hard."
- "I noticed a great improvement in your pronunciation of [specific sound or word]."
- "Your fluency is excellent, and your pronunciation is generally very clear."
- "You're making excellent progress with [specific aspect of pronunciation]."
Remember to be genuine! Focus on specific aspects of their pronunciation that you genuinely admire. This makes the praise more meaningful and less generic.
Addressing Areas for Improvement: Specific and Constructive Criticism
Once you've offered positive feedback, you can move on to areas where the student could improve. The key here is to be specific and constructive. Avoid vague comments like "your pronunciation needs improvement." Instead, pinpoint the specific sounds or patterns that need attention.
Focusing on Specific Sounds:
- Identify the Problem: Instead of saying "your vowels are weak," specify which vowels are problematic. For example, "The short 'i' sound in 'sit' and 'ship' could use some work. Try to keep your tongue higher and further forward."
- Provide Examples: Offer examples of correct pronunciation. You can use minimal pairs (words that differ by only one sound) to highlight the difference. For example: "The words 'ship' and 'sheep' are often confused. Notice the difference in the vowel sound."
- Suggest Strategies: Offer specific strategies for improvement. This could include tongue placement, mouth shape, or breathing techniques. For instance: "To improve your 'r' sound, try vibrating your vocal cords slightly and curling your tongue towards the roof of your mouth."
Focusing on Stress and Intonation:
- Sentence Stress: Point out if the student misplaces sentence stress. For example, "In the sentence 'I went to the store,' the emphasis should be on 'store,' not 'went.'"
- Word Stress: Highlight issues with word stress. For example, "Remember that the stress in 'photograph' falls on the second syllable."
- Intonation: Comment on the rise and fall of the student's voice. For example, "Your intonation is generally good, but try raising your pitch at the end of questions to make them sound more natural."
Offering Resources and Encouragement
Finally, offer resources and encouragement to help the student continue improving.
Helpful Resources:
- Online pronunciation dictionaries: Recommend dictionaries that provide audio examples of pronunciation.
- Pronunciation apps: Suggest apps that offer pronunciation practice and feedback.
- Language exchange partners: Encourage the student to practice speaking with native speakers.
Words of Encouragement:
- "Keep practicing! With consistent effort, you will see significant improvement."
- "Don't be discouraged by challenges. Pronunciation takes time and effort."
- "I'm confident that you can achieve your pronunciation goals."
By combining positive feedback with specific, constructive criticism and helpful resources, you can provide valuable feedback that will motivate students to improve their pronunciation. Remember, patience and encouragement are key!
