STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS READING ALOUD PRACTICE TO IMPROVE PRONUNCIATION

Abstract

It should clearly reflect the contents of the paper. Pronunciation is one of the neglected aspects in teaching and learning EFL that focuses on the communication approach. As long as the message is conveyed, inaccurate pronunciation can be overlooked. However, intelligible, and accurate pronunciation are also important for successful communication for EFL learners. This is even more crucial for English teachers as they become the role model for their students. This study is to find out the students’ attitudes towards the task of reading aloud to improve their pronunciation as well as their confidence. The subjects were twenty freshmen of pre-service teachers majoring in English education. Since practicing pronunciation requires a model speaker, this study used one bible mobile application that provides the assigned 28 chapters of the text as well as the model speaker reading aloud the text. The subjects were asked to first listen to the model reading aloud each chapter and practice reading it aloud on their own afterwards. They could practice listening and reading aloud as many as three times for each chapter and reported their activity in a given journal template. A google form survey was conducted to find out their responses after one-month practice. The result shows that most subjects found reading aloud practice after listening to the model speaker help them articulate English words in the text more clearly and accurately. Most of them also reported that they became more fluent and grew in their confidence to read aloud in English. In addition, they learn how to read with proper stress and intonation.