The Basics of English Pronunciation

Abstract

This material has been designed for the pronunciation lessons given at the Introductory Course of the English programs at the School of Languages. Its purpose is to help students develop the basic skills and knowledge they need in order to be successful first-year students. Thus, the book will provide the beginner with brief theory and explanations, practice exercises, and a handy reference when it comes to reviewing basic information about phonemes, as well as examples of words where phonemes appear. We must also clarify that, although theoretical explanations are provided in this book, they are here simply to help students understand the basics of pronunciation and to serve as reference for more advanced courses. However, they are not the essence or main purpose of this book, which is of a more practical nature. The course aims at developing your perception, recognition, and controlled production skills. You are also expected to learn the phonemic symbols that represent the English sounds. It is with these objectives in mind that this book offers different types of challenging exercises that provide training, variety and, hopefully, even fun.