Teaching American English Pronunciation

by Susan Ehrlich and Peter Avery

Book Overview

This introduction to the pronunciation of American English describes the sound system, suggests ways of tackling pronunciation problems, and provides a variety of techniques and exercises for use in the classroom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0194328155
• ISBN13: 9780194328159
• Release Date: June 1992
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

The book is excellent, but it contains many errors.

I used a first printing of this book during graduate studies back in '93, and although the book has gone through subsequent printings, errors remain. The errors, both editing and typo errors plus interpretative errors--are available as a three-page pdf file (1.2 MB) at eslbee.com/teaching_american_english_pronunciation_corrections.pdf . I guess I'm surprised that after fifteen years, Oxford still hasn't issued a new corrected edition. The book is clearly a five-star book were it not for its errors.

More accessible than Celce-Murcia

I was asssigned this book in a non-credit ESL pronunciation course, and found it a bit less complex than the "bible" on the subject, Celce-Murcia. Good clear explanations throughout. This subject involves some memorization and study to master it properly, but as a teacher you'll be amply rewarded when with a few tips on lip and tongue placement the correct sound magically emerges from your student's mouth. Has a good section on specific problems depending on the L1 of the student.

overall good but could be better

the book has a great section on pronunciation problem for specific first-language groups (for example, the problems that many Taiwanese or Spanish speakers face), but it could have more pictures about mouth shape and how to make the pronunciation sounds

A great pronunciation reference

I use this book quite a bit when teaching pronunciation. While this smaller volume isn't as thorough as Celce-Murcia, et al.'s Teaching Pronunciation... I find that it's a very good supplement. I use the two books together. A practical and very classroom-oriented guide for teachers. Recommended.