RESUME OF CLASSROOM ACTION RESEARCH MATERIAL

CAKE APP IN STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION ABILITY:A CLASSROOM ACTION RESEARCH STUDY

Definition of Pronunciation

The English speaking capability of students may be assessed by many assessment markers, notably fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Speaking pronunciation is a factor to be considered since acquiring a new (foreign) language means that we must be able to express it in accordance with the sound language rules.

 

Factors Affecting Pronunciation

-          Motivation

-          Mother tongue / Native language influence

-          Age

-          Target Language Exposure

 

Problems in Pronunciation

Indonesian learners struggle with English pronunciation due to their mother tongue's instilled sound. They must copy and manipulate speech to generate foreign sounds. The difficulty of learning a second language depends on the degree of variation between languages. Teachers comparing 13 languages can better understand and teach these challenges.

Aspects of Pronunciation

-          Segmental features

o   Vowels, classified into two types: monophthongs and diphthongs.

-          Supra segmental features

o   Stress is given to a certain syllable or word.

o   Intonation is communicating the speaker’s attitude towards what is uttered.

 

Teaching Pronunciation

1.       The Importance of Teaching Pronunciation

Pronunciation is crucial for effective communication, especially in English. Teachers play a significant role in teaching pronunciation, providing strategies to help students improve their pronunciation, preventing misunderstandings and negative impressions.

2.       Teacher’s Role in Teaching Pronunciation

Teachers are essential in classrooms for pronunciation, but often struggle with phonological distinctions. Second language students require detailed explanations and corrective feedback to imitate difficult sounds. The standard ACR test is used for pronunciation scoring.

3.       Goals in Teaching Pronunciation

a.       Functional intelligibility

b.       Developing spoken English that is easy to understand for listeners

c.       Functional communicability

d.       Developing spoken language that serves communicative needs effectively; - increased self-confidence

e.       Developing a positive self-image

 

Cake English Application as the Learning Media