Teaching Pronunciation for International Intelligibility - by Jim Y H Chan & Margaret M Lo

About the Book

This book offers principled guidance for teachers and researchers in World English(es) and English as a Lingua Franca contexts on developing a feature-based approach to teaching English pronunciation for international intelligibility. Using Hong Kong English as a case study, it offers inquiry tasks to help develop contextualised teaching tools.

Book Synopsis

Equips readers to develop an intelligibility-oriented approach to pronunciation teaching suitable for any second/foreign language or Global Englishes setting.

This book offers principled guidance for practitioners and researchers on developing a feature-based approach to teaching English pronunciation, with a focus on intelligibility within communicative contexts. Using Hong Kong English as a case study, it allows teachers and students to critically explore English intelligibility in their own sociolinguistic and educational contexts and question the perceived importance of native speaker pronunciation.

The book examines curricula, assessments, teaching materials, teacher perceptions, pronunciation teaching strategies and corrective feedback practices, and develops a contextualised approach to pronunciation teaching that prioritises key features affecting understanding, particularly in World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca settings.

Discussion and inquiry tasks in each chapter make this ideal for trainee teachers and teacher educators, while researchers will find valuable tools to explore intelligibility-oriented approaches in diverse contexts.

Review Quotes

The volume provides a thoughtful and research-driven intelligibility-oriented approach to English pronunciation teaching within a multilingual framework, using Hong Kong English as a case study. As the book offers practical frameworks for teachers to integrate intelligibility principles into curricula, classroom practice, and assessment in multilingual contexts, it is a wonderful resource for teachers and researchers interested in pronunciation teaching.-- "Jette G. Hansen Edwards, The Chinese University of Hong Kong"

This volume will make a fascinating read for anyone interested in new orientations to pronunciation and its teaching in relation to World Englishes and English as a lingua franca. While focusing on the Hong Kong context, its comprehensive but highly readable coverage of the theoretical background and its original perspective will resonate widely.-- "Jennifer Jenkins, Emeritus Professor, University of Southampton, UK"

This much-needed book details a groundbreaking and innovative approach to pronunciation learning and teaching. This method, while based on a local variety of English, considers local and global communicative needs. It presents a pedagogic framework for integrating an intelligibility-oriented approach to pronunciation into classroom practice. English teachers world-wide will find it immensely valuable.-- "Andy Kirkpatrick, Professor Emeritus, Griffith University, Australia"

About the Author

Jim Y. H. Chan is a Lecturer in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University, UK. His research explores World Englishes, English as a Lingua Franca, Teaching English as an International Language, multilingual education, language attitudes and collaborative online international learning.

Margaret M. Lo is an independent scholar, working on English language education, critical pedagogy, critical literacy, teacher education, social justice and inclusive education.