Granville, West Virginia TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

I have learned that even though I can recognize and decipher what people using different types of English it is certainly a different story for people of other languages. The pronunciation and the spelling of words are often not the same, thus a greater emphasis is placed on listening and the context in which the words are used. This is where the intonation, stress and rhythm come into effect especially when reading as well. The intention, emotion and motives of the person uttering a sentence effects the how individual words are stressed and intonation is applied. As a learner of English this is certainly a part of the language that requires extra work none more so when visiting counties speaking English. Reason being the way in which those countries speak and apply words (including humour) can be vastly heterogeneous. As a teacher one has to take time to at least attempt to teach students the different patterns of pronunciation so that they can recognize or have a better understanding as to how to interpret a statement or question. They can then respond or react accordingly. Pronunciation and phonetics is particularly relevant when teaching students for oral and debate (as well as reading). It is often difficult to teach students the intonation and or stress that’s required if they don’t even know the meaning of words. I believe the meaning should be well grasped and then followed by the subsequent phonetic usage in a particular context.