Enhancing Pronunciation Skills through Speech Lesson among Grade 12 ABM students at Bestlink College of the Philippines

Abstract

Having poor pronunciation skills similar to eating with your bare hands; it is messy. Speaking words without proper phonetics is a disaster because you cannot understand what they are saying; it is similar to mumbling without sense. The people who are afraid to speak in English tend to communicate with their body language, such as nodding, shrugging, hand signal, and answering them with a short words such as “yes,” “no,” and “maybe.” Speaking and pronunciation are much alike. To speak clearly, you must pronounce the word precisely for people to understand you properly. Pronunciation instruction is extremely important because it is the main source of understanding. If learners cannot utter the correct version of the word, then they cannot communicate correctly. Pronunciation instruction helps learners to have a better understanding of native speakers and improves their ability to communicate easily and effectively. The descriptive method was used in this study. This study aimed to improve and enhance pronunciation skills through speech lessonsamongGrade 12 Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM)students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. The main instrument used here was a questionnaire, which was used to gather the data needed to answer the problems presented in chapter 1 related factors such as of Grade 12 ABM students at Bestlink College of the Philippines during A.Y. 2019–2020. In conducting speech lessons, the instructor should be resourceful in creating activities for students to actively participate in the discussion. In speaking English in an English class, students unconsciously used their regional accent instead of basic English pronunciation that leads to a strong pronunciation. The students can differentiate letter sounds but got confused with several English words, especially those that came from France and Spain or those known as special words. The students know the importance of pronunciation but are hesitant to recite and participate in English class. Grade 12 ABM students are having a hard time pronouncing unfamiliar English words with a unique spelling. As the researchers conducted the action plan, students obtained the lowest scores in the special words category whose spelling is not the same way on how to pronounce the word. After we conducted the speech lesson, the students were able to differentiate the words based on the meaning and the way they spelled. Hence, speech lesson helps them to improve their pronunciation skills through activities such as tongue twister and wika rambulan and presenting unusual words, as well as reciting and performing English words/language.