UNIVERSIDAD DE PANAMÁ

RESEARCH IN PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY CH3032

Ismael Martínez 9-707-978

Student in the Doctoral Program in English Linguistics at the University of Panama.

Facilitator:
Yvonne Claire, PhD

Summary and Personal Review: Using Phonetic Transcription to Improve

Students´s pronunciation Skills.
What I have founf useful in my own practice?

Phonetic transcription is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance the pronunciation
skills of language learners. It involves using a system of symbols to represent the
sounds of a language, allowing learners to better understand and replicate the
sounds they hear. By using phonetic transcription, learners can improve their
pronunciation accuracy, fluency and overall communication skills.

One of the main benefits of using phonetic transcription in pronunciation instruction

is that it allows learners to develop a more accurate understanding of sounds and
how they are produced. Many languages have sounds that do not exist in the
learner's native language, and this can make it difficult to correctly reproduce the
sounds. By using phonetic transcription, learners can see the unique symbols that
represent these unfamiliar sounds, and with guidance from a teacher or tutor, they
can learn how to produce these sounds correctly.

Another benefit of using phonetic transcription is that it can provide learners with a
standard pronunciation model. Learners can become familiar with the symbols used
to represent the sounds of the language they are learning and better understand
which sounds they need to focus on in order to improve their pronunciation. They
can also compare their own pronunciation with the transcription symbols and make
adjustments as necessary until they achieve a near-perfect representation of the
sound.
Phonetic transcription can also be used to improve learners' fluency. When learners
become more familiar with the symbols used in phonetic transcription, they can begin
to read phonetic texts more easily and quickly. This can help them to learn new
vocabulary more efficiently and to improve their overall reading comprehension.

In addition to helping learners with phonetic accuracy and fluency, the use of
phonetic transcription can also help them to develop their ability to hear and
distinguish between sounds in the target language. This is essential for effective
communication, as it allows learners to better understand the speech of native
speakers and to recognize different sounds in the language.

Overall, using phonetic transcription in the classroom is an effective way to improve

learners' pronunciation skills. It can be used in a variety of ways, including in
individual instruction, group activities, or interactive exercises. By incorporating
phonetic transcription into language learning activities, teachers can greatly enhance
the pronunciation skills of their students and help them to become more confident
and effective communicators.