AN ICT APPROACH TO ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION TEACHING AND LEARNING TO UNDERGRADUATE

ENGLISH MAJORS IN VIETNAM

Nguyen Van MinhTran Ngoc Giang

Presentation outline● Synopsis● ICT approach

o Online toolo Offline toolo Integration into Teaching & Learning

● Strengths● Obstacles● Conclusions & Recommendations

Synopsis

The subject of English Pronunciation Practice: ● an essential role. ● a strong influence on other skills, especially listening and speaking. ● yet, receives a rather small amount of time in almost all English-majored

university curricula

Free ICT tools (Wikispaces and FLAn) are used to digitalize the course book “English Pronunciation in Use - Intermediate” by Mark Hancock.

ICT approach

In order to maximize the effectiveness of this digitized product,we propose a solution consisting of two parts:● The first part is a website created with Wikispaces.com to

help students study online and● the second one is an offline tool created by FLAn (Foreign

Language Annotator) to assist students with their self-studypractice.

Online tool

Wikispaces.com:● free● enables us to design a website with all common features

such as images, sounds, videos, etc.The online solution is available for free at the following address:

http://pronunciationinuse.wikispaces.com/

Offline tool

FLAn● free● allows creating interactive lessons with ease which require only a normal

computer to operate (internet connection is not necessary oncedownloaded).

● contains all of the content of the online website and a GlossaryExplanation tool

All of the interactive lessons created by FLAN has been uploaded onto thefollowing address. All people concerning may download them free foreducational purposes.

http://goo.gl/2A65O0

Integration into Teaching & LearningOur solution greatly support the teaching and learning of Pronunciation Practice both inside andoutside classrooms.● In class: the teacher may use these two tools right in his/her class depending on the teaching

context. If the classroom is fully equipped with computers and stable internet connection, theteacher can easily instruct and help his/her students directly interact and learn with the onlinetool (Wikispaces.com). On the contrary, in case the classroom only has computers withoutreliable internet connection, the teacher might download the offline packs (FLAn) and copy theminto the students’ computers for their study with ease and convenience.

● At home: if the classroom has no computers or the textbook used for the subject ofPronunciation Practice is different from what we have been digitizing, these two tools can still actas an effective self-study solution. The students can access the website (the online tool) ordownload the interactive lessons in FLAn format (the offline tool) and self-study under theguidance of the teacher.

Strengths

A great number of advantages compared to the traditional.● same content in traditional book● many teaching-supported activities such as watching videos,

articles, quizzes, web links in wikispaces.com. andclarification of word meaning supported by pictures, audiofiles, and videos which are available in the offline tool (FLAn).ways of motivating to students thanks to colorful and funnypictures.

● more convenience

Strengths

Our solution● saves time spent on the preparation of E- lessons● empowers more flexible and effective interaction● is updated constantly in order to enrich teaching and

learning resources● offers a new and comprehensive solution to those

whose access to the Net is limited

Obstacles

● the attitudes of teachers and students towards the integration of ICT into the curricula.

● the underdeveloped facilities of some educational institutions.

Conclusions & Recommendations

● The ICT APPROACH is likely to achieve promising outcomesthanks to its critical contribution to the teaching and learning,arousing the interests of both teachers and learners in classor at home.

● The simplicity of the solution makes it possible for almost allteachers and learners to take a huge advantage from it.

● Our proposed solution with the offline packs (FLAn) can workwell in remote and mountainous areas where a firm internetconnection might be a big hindrance.

Conclusions & Recommendations

In order to promote wider and deeper positive impacts on the learning and teaching ofthis subject in Vietnam’s tertiary institutions, we would like to suggest the following ideas:

1. Expand and implement the ICT solution into the teaching and learning of the subjectEnglish Pronunciation in all universities in Vietnam.

2. Digitalize other coursebooks such as “Sheep or Ship”, “Pronunciation made simple”,etc. for far more diverse learning resources.

3. Invest to build and upgrade the ICT infrastructure in order to well integrate ICT intothe teaching and learning at higher education institutions in Vietnam.

4. Improve the training of ICT to the teaching staff of universities in Vietnam.5. Issue suitable policies to encourage the teachers who apply ICT to improve the

effectiveness of their teaching in general and teaching English pronunciation inparticular.