Unit 3 “Phonology”

This chapter is funny because in here we are going to learn sounds at the moment to pronounce words. So,we can say that phonology is the study of sound system or features in any language around the world. Those features are phonemes, words stress, sentences stress and intonation.  In which the phoneme is the smallest unit of sound, and we can find them into the phonemic chart that contains vowels, diphthongs and consonants (sounds with voiced and voiceless).  In addition, we will find phonemic symbols that help us to know exactly the correct pronunciation.  Moreover the phonemic script and the transcription will help us to identify phonemic symbols.

Also, the word stress gives a strong stress in one syllable, into a dictionary the entries can show you the use of it; sentence stress influence how sentences are pronounced; and finally intonation that is the way of how the speaker changes the level of the voice to show emotions, attitudes, emphasize or make questions, make statements in order to show a meaning.

This complete information will be a little difficult to apply into the classroom, but as teacher we need to play with sounds at the moment to pronounce or the intonation. Students can sing songs something according to their ages.  Also, they can look for minimal pairs (cat, bat) into the songs that they will enjoy and learn at the same time. In addition, students can develop role plays with real topics and they can apply the phoneme features into the classroom.

As in the video above you will find an example about how phonology is teaching into school on North East Florida, and teachers make a funny process for children in order to develop the language.

References

• Mary Spratt, A. P. (2011). The TKT Teaching Knowledge Test Course. Cambridge University Press.
• Kateri, B. (2013). Early Childhood Teacher. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodteacher.org/blog/5-quick-easy-and-fun-phonemic-awareness-activities/