1. Introduction
Pronunciation is one of the components of English language teaching and should be an attainable goal for foreign
language teachers. The aim is not to achieve the native-like pronunciation, but to make learners aware of the importance
and usefulness of appropriate pronunciation and give it enough space during class-work. Nixon and Tomlinson (2005)
report that pronunciation learning should start as early as possible because, in their formative years, young learners are
much more receptive to learning sounds and pronunciation patterns. As is stressed by Kuç (2008), it is much easier to
teach and correct pronunciation at an early stage in the learner’s development than it is to correct time-compounded
pronunciation errors later. Apart from their natural ability to imitate sounds, children in the 7-12 age group are far less
self-conscious than those of 13 years and above. But after this age the ability to imitate perfectly becomes less. On the
other hand, adults have great difficulty in mastering the pronunciation of foreign languages, she believes.
O’Connor (1980) emphasizes that “the main problem of English pronunciation is to build a new set of boxes
corresponding to the sounds of English, and to break down the arrangement of boxes which the habits of our native
language have so strongly built up. We do this by establishing new ways of hearing, new ways of using our speech organs,
and ‘developing’ new speech habits”
1. IntroductionPronunciation is one of the components of English language teaching and should be an attainable goal for foreignlanguage teachers. The aim is not to achieve the native-like pronunciation, but to make learners aware of the importanceand usefulness of appropriate pronunciation and give it enough space during class-work. Nixon and Tomlinson (2005)report that pronunciation learning should start as early as possible because, in their formative years, young learners aremuch more receptive to learning sounds and pronunciation patterns. As is stressed by Kuç (2008), it is much easier toteach and correct pronunciation at an early stage in the learner’s development than it is to correct time-compoundedpronunciation errors later. Apart from their natural ability to imitate sounds, children in the 7-12 age group are far lessself-conscious than those of 13 years and above. But after this age the ability to imitate perfectly becomes less. On theother hand, adults have great difficulty in mastering the pronunciation of foreign languages, she believes.O’Connor (1980) emphasizes that “the main problem of English pronunciation is to build a new set of boxescorresponding to the sounds of English, and to break down the arrangement of boxes which the habits of our nativelanguage have so strongly built up. We do this by establishing new ways of hearing, new ways of using our speech organs,and ‘developing’ new speech habits”
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