Biography
Prof. Abbas Pourhosein Gilakjani
Prof. Abbas Pourhosein Gilakjani
Islamic Azad University, Iran
Title: Learning English Pronunciation: An Overview of Factors and Strategies
Abstract: 

Pronunciation is an integral part of learning a foreign language because it affects learners' communication skills and their performance. Obtaining the correct pronunciation of a second language is an essential part of the language learning process. Pronunciation has a key role in increasing the communicative competence and performance of L2 learners. Learning to pronounce is one of the most sensitive and complex aspects of an English class. Limited pronunciation skills can lower learners’ confidence, limit social interactions, and negatively impact the ability of the speakers. The current focus on communicative approaches to learning pronunciation and attention to the development of communication skills emphasizes the fact that pronunciation plays a significant role in learners’ overall communicative competence. The objectives of this review article are to define pronunciation, express the importance of pronunciation, explain the factors affecting pronunciation learning, elaborate pronunciation integration in the curriculum, and discuss strategies for teaching pronunciation that can help EFL learners meet their personal and professional needs. A review of literature shows that with careful preparation and integration, pronunciation can play an important role in supporting learners’ communication skills.


Key words: Pronunciation; Importance; Factors; Integration; Strategies

Biography: 
Dr. Abbas Pourhosein Gilakjani is an Assistant Professor of TESOL (USM,  Malaysia) at Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran where he teaches courses in English Language Teaching. His main research interests are human-computer interaction, CALL, language teaching methodologies, and research on English language teaching/learning.