How to help someone struggling with pronunciation in their target language (TL?)
Sorry if not allowed.
I’m currently teaching a (TL) adult language class in Irish to a mix of complete beginners up to a2. We are 5 classes in and have covered/are covering things like your name, basic sentence structure, where you’re from, etc. we spent a class and a half on pronunciation and phonetics. We have done scripted dialogues too. I gave a handout with the breakdown of how different letter combination sounds with examples and read these all out in the first class and a half.
The language is fairly regular with how it’s written and how words are pronounced (obviously there’s regional dialects). I try to make sure to read out all new phrases to the class and also go around if there are any questions.
One member of the class is really struggling
with pronunciation and wants everything spelled phonetically on handouts etc. I provided this for the first two classes but had emphasised that the initial handouts on pronunciation worked as a guide for figuring out how new learned words sound. they prefer to write everything out phonetically when filling in work sheets (rather than writing the actual spelling) and are getting annoyed/frustrated over sounding out words on their own.
I don’t want anyone to be left behind in the class but I am struggling with how to best help them. From my research, giving everything phonetically can create dependency on it and doesn’t help with applying the skills to new words / phrases. I think the fact that it is a mixed level class means they are getting frustrated when next to speakers with more experience as they are not finding it as easy.
Is it realistic to be covering things like greetings/where you’re from/basic sentences like I drink coffee etc after 4/5 lessons or am I being unrealistic on what is possible to manage in a new language. Others in the class are very happy with the content but this member has said it is too advanced.
Very long winded post but what is the best way to help them without actually hindering their learning process and everyone else’s? It is only a 10 week course so is very introductory.
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