Common Myths about Teaching Pronunciation with Emma Walker

Common Myths about Teaching Pronunciation with Emma Walker

Author: TESOL Pop May 1, 2024 Duration: 15:18
TESOL Pop
EducationHow ToSelf ImprovementTechnology

Founder of Pronunciation with Emma, Emma Walker, addresses myths surrounding teaching pronunciation, from misconceptions about the skills we need as teachers to common mixups between accent and pronunciation.


Watch with closed captions.


TALKING POINTS


Myth 1: Certain Teachers Can't Teach Pronunciation

Emma emphasises the importance of mindset shifting among teachers, learners and the wider community. Teachers who speak English as a second language can still effectively teach pronunciation and provide an inspiring role model for learners.


Myth 2: Accent Equals Pronunciation

While accent and pronunciation are connected, they are not the same. Emma illustrates the distinction with practical examples and highlights the importance of intelligibility.


Myth 3: Pronunciation Lessons Are Limited to Short Activities

Emma challenges the misconception that pronunciation lessons can't fill an entire class. She recommends resources and materials that can be adapted for advanced learners, providing clarity in pronunciation instruction.


ABOUT

Emma Walker has been teaching for over 15 years and decided to focus on helping English learners improve their pronunciation and listening skills after noticing that many of her students (who were living and working in the UK), were struggling to understand other people in the UK. She started making videos on social media back in 2018 and has amassed a following of over 1 million English learners and over 22 million views. Emma is also a copywriter and ghostwrites social media content for some of the biggest ELT companies. Visit Pronunciation with Emma to learn more.


REFERENCES

  1. Baker, A. (2006) Ship or Sheep? Book and Audio CD Pack: An Intermediate Pronunciation Course. Cambridge University Press; 2nd edition
  2. Baker, A. (2006) Tree or Three? An Elementary Pronunciation Course. Cambridge University Press; 2nd edition
  3. Hancock, M. (1995) Pronunciation Games. Cambridge University Press
  4. Hancock, M. (2017) English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge University Press


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CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Thanks to our fun guest, Emma Walker

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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