screen capture of pronciation activity

Pronunciation

The online medium can be used to develop pronunciation skills in new vocabulary in languages or for the development of subject specific word lists

Samples

Medical terminology

Audio activity to learn the pronunciation of specific medical terminology.

Source Day at the Desk by TAFE Frontiers
URL TAFE frontiers catalogue
Use BSBMED301A - Use advanced medical terminology in order to communicate in a medical office
Delivery Copy of this course can be delivered on a WebCT platform or other Learning Management system or on a CD
Customisation Aspects of this resource can be customised using an HTML editor
Availability Available from TAFE frontiers

Plant Planet - Glossary of plant species

This glossary provides an audio pronunciation of Australian botanical names, as well as images and descriptive text.

Source RTD02 Conservation and Land Management Toolbox, Lead agent Challenger TAFE
URL Toolbox information and preview - Conservation and Land Management (507)
Use Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management
Delivery Can be delivered using a CD or loaded into a Learning Management System such as WebCT or Blackboard.
Customisation The material in this Toolbox has been developed to allow for customisation.
Availability Details of how to purchase this Toolbox are available on 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework site listed above.

Understand and use basic computer terminology

Activities to identify computer terms and meanings

Source State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training
URL http://oaipmh.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/VLORN/ResourceInfo.aspx?resID=2433
Use Certificate I in Information Technology
Delivery Can be delivered using a CD or loaded into a Learning Management System such as Moodle, Janison or Blackboard.
Customisation The material in this Learning Object has been developed to allow for customisation.
Availability Can be downloaded from LORN at http://oaipmh.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/VLORN/ResourceInfo.aspx?resID=2433

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Why include online pronunciation activities?

Online pronunciation activities allow repeated listening and practice for learners and a "private" space which minimises embarrassment about mistakes.

Features

  • practises rythym, intonation and stress
  • allows the learner to access the audio unlimited times
  • often has visual elements to augment the sound (eg. photo of a plant with audio pronunciation of the botanical name).

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Integrating pronunciation activities

It is likely that pronunciation activities will occur within the context of other learning. You can include online pronunciation activities in a content presentation so that learners can hear and practise the pronunciation of key vocabulary in context.

Design steps

  1. select the vocabulary items that need to be learnt and practised.
  2. if appropriate, select graphics/photos to accompany the audio.
  3. record the vocabulary in digital format using sound recording software such as Audacity (see Resources below)
  4. decide on how to distribute the audio files to learners either as online audio files or podcasts
  5. upload the segments to the web, either on a stand-alone website, a Learning Management System or podcasting site such as Odeo or Podomatic
  6. provide opportunities for practising their pronunciation online asynchronously using a voice board or podcast tool or synchronously through telephone or a Voice over Internet Protocol tool such as Skype
  7. prepare supporting resources for learners on how to use the pronunciation activities.

Assessment

It is unlikely that the pronunciation activities would be used as an assessment task. However you may wish to ask learners to record the correct pronunciation and upload the file or use a Learner Management System Voice Tool such as Voice Board  or Moodle plug in Voice recorder to be assessed.

It will require more of the trainers time  to read/listen to the postings however it is quicker to reply to postings than drafting text. 

Technical notes

Developing audio clips of correct pronunciation is not a highly technical task but it is time consuming.

Skills

Teachers will need to be able to identify appropriate words and pronunciation prior to the development of the activities.

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See also

From the Framework

More resources from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Tools and resources

  • GippsTafe Medical Terminology Case Study
    Training of medical terminology (reading and speaking), cross-cultural courses with students from around the world (Abu Dabi and the Gippsland area) and media training.
    http://netspot.com.au/gtcasestudy/gippstage_06.htm
  • Audacity
    Audacity is a free audio editor. You can record sounds, play sounds, import and export WAV and MP3 files and upload them to the web for pronunciation activities.
    http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about.php
  • Sound Editing with Audacity
    http://www.yum.vic.edu.au/toolbox/sound/so01.htm
  • How to create Audio Podcasts
    http://aquaculturepda.wikispaces.com/Podcast4
    Podcasting extends the use of audio files by enabling the learner to subscribe to learning content provided in audio form through the use of RSS feeds. Audio files can be uploaded to free sites such Odeo and Podomatic for ease of distribution to users who can then either subscribe to the RSS feed or listen directly from the site from an embedded media player.
  • Global Voices: Distributed Learning Projects With Interactive Podcasting and VOIP Tools
    Examples of successful interactive podcasting and voice over IP (VOIP) classroom exchange projects
    http://teachdigital.pbwiki.com/globalvoices

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Last modified: 15/9/08