THE USE OF TEXT ALOUD SOFTWARE IN TEACHING STUDENTS' PRONUNCIATION

Roslaini Roslaini; Cahya Komara

doi:10.46244/geej.v7i1.994

Roslaini Roslaini University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA
Cahya Komara University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46244/geej.v7i1.994

Keywords: Text Aloud Software, EFL learner, Pronunciation

Abstract

Pronunciation is often viewed as difficult English sub-skill for EFL students in Indonesia. Many of students did not know how to respond the problem of pronunciation they have in class. Moreover, many teachers or lecturers also did not support the students’ pronunciation teaching and learning with a proper media. This situation happened in second semester students of English Department, FKIP UHAMKA Jakarta 2018/2019 Academic Year. In fact, there are plenty of technology applications that can support or assist them to practice pronunciation by their own. One of it is Text aloud Software. Thus, in this small-scale study, the researchers aim to reveal the use of Text Aloud Software as one of technology application that can help English as Foreign Language (EFL) students to mastery English pronunciation in the classroom. This study applies quantitative method with the use of quasi-experimental design and also added by close-ended questioners. The question of this research is; does Text Aloud Software help EFL students to master English pronunciation? To be able to answer the research question, this study involved 20 respondents who were selected purposively. The results showed that both data of pre-test and post-test in control class and experiment class was normally distributed and homogeny. The statistical test or t-test also showed that t observed (t_o = 1.68) was smaller than t table (t_t= 2.02) which was 1.68 < 2.02. It can be concluded that H_o is rejected and H_i is accepted. Therefore, Text-Aloud Software is effective in helping students to master pronunciation.

References

Agarwal, B. B. (2010). Software engineering and testing. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Baber, C., & Noyes, J. (1993). Interactive speech technology: human factors issues in the application of speech input/output to computers. Bristol: Taylor & Francis Inc.

Gilakjani, A.P., & Ahmadi, M. R. (2011). Why is pronunciation so difficult to Learn? English Language Teaching, Vol. 4(3).

González, D. (2007). Text-to-speech applications used in EFL contexts to enhance pronunciation. TESL-EJ Journal, 11(2).

Gussenhoven, C. (2004). The Phonology of tone and intonation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Harmer, J. (2001). The Practice of English language teaching. Second Edition. Essex: Longman.

Hewings, M. (2004). Pronunciation practice activity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kelly, G. (2000). How to teach pronunciation. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Kilickaya, F. (2006). “Text-to-speech technology”: What does it offer to foreign language learners? CALL-EJ, 7(3).

Levis, J. M. (2018). Intelligibility, oral communication, and the teaching of pronunciation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Maniruzzaman, M. (2008). Teaching English pronunciation; Why, what, and how?. Muenchen: GRIN Verlag.

Mulyono, H. (2012). Creating native-like but comprehensible listening texts for EFL learners using NaturalReader. TESL-EJ, Vol. 18(1).

Mulyono, H., & Vebriyanti, D. N. (2016). Developing native-like listening comprehension materials perceptions of a digital approach. Journal of ELT Research. Vol. 1(19).

Murcia, M. C., Brinton, D. M., & Goodwin, J. M. (1996). Teaching pronunciation: a reference for teachers of English to speakers of other language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

O’Malley, M. H. (1990). Text-to-speech conversion technology. Computer, 23(8).

Roach, P. (2009). English phonetics and phonology; A practical course 4th edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Sobkowiak, W. (2003). TTS in EFL CALL: Some pedagogical considerations. Teaching English with Technology, 3(4).

Sudjana, N. (2005). Metode statistika. Bandung: Tarsito.

Szyszka, M. (2017). Pronunciation learning strategies and language anxiety; in search of an interplay. Berlin: Springer.

Text Aloud Software. (2014). What is Text Aloud? Accessed on 2 Januari, 2019, retrieved from http://www.nextup.com/.

Ulrike, G. (2014). Introduction to English phonetics and phonology. Bern: Peter Lang.

Underhill, A. (2005). Sound foundations learning and teaching pronunciation. Oxford: Macmillan.