Course title

1. 
   to acquaint students with theory and practice of English phonetics – RP as a model accent,
   
2. 
   to get rid of a foreign accent in English,
   
3. 
   to build students’ awareness and concern for good pronunciation,
   
4. 
   to draw students’ attention to the problem areas faced by foreign learners of English,
   
5. 
   to provide the students with necessary knowledge to be able to self-evaluate their own pronunciation and correct and assess the pronunciation of others.
   

A student:

- knows the theoretical background and the practical application of English phonetics, i.e. defines and explains phonetic concepts, provides examples of selected sounds or processes, describes , e.g. the production of individual sounds, recognizes sounds, words and sentences from listening and can transcribe them in phonemic transcription as well as characterizes phonetic differences between English and their native language;

- identifies phonetic problems of Polish users of English (in case of Erasmus students, the problems of users of their native language).

A student:

• 
  recognises English sounds and can pronounce and transcribe them;
  
• 
  analyses and self-evaluates their own pronunciation and works on getting rid of interference form their own mother-tongue into English and on limiting the amount of a foreign accent in English;
  
• 
  is able to critically evaluate others’ pronunciation, i.e. to point to their strengths and weaknesses;
  
• 
  understands the need for a constant development, broadening their phonetic knowledge and improving their performance.
  

A student:

• 
  can critically evaluate their own pronunciation and the articulation of others, i.e. find erroneous renditions of sounds and words, praise correct enunciation, etc;
  
• 
  reads English texts aloud and works to cope with stage fright in front of the audience;
  
• 
  takes care of their own and their partner’s pronunciation;
  
• 
  is open to teacher’s and other students’ critical remarks;
  
• 
  aims at mastering perception and production of English sounds, words, sentences and utterances, i.e. the correct and accurate sounding in English.
  

Lecture

- speech as a means of vocal communication,

- the description of speech organs.

Theory:

- the vowel systems of English and Polish: English/Polish substitutions,

- vowel duration in a different context in a word.

• 
  the phonetic chart (IPA): transcription and symbols.
  
• 
  writing and reading transcription,
  

- Plosives: Aspiration: exercises on aspiration of /p/, /t/ and /k/.

- Fricatives and affricates.

- Approximants, nasals and laterals, nasal and lateral release.

Student’s individual work and pairwork in a language laboratory supervised by the teacher.

Activities with a focus on perception and production.
Types of exercises: individual and choral repetition drills, imitating the model pronunciation, minimal pairs, transcribing from listening (sounds, words and sentences), writing texts in phonetic transcription and reading transcription.

Teacher and peer correction and self-evaluation.

1 term – test: close and open-ended questions (60% for a pass); credit,

Practical class:

The final grade is based on up to 4 practical transcription tests and student’ pronunciation.

There are the following tests throughout the whole semester:

1. 
   written ones:
   

• 
  perception tests,
  
• 
  transcription test (of a written texts and/or from listening),
  
• 
  testing theory and its practical application.
  

2. 
   oral ones:
   

• 
  diagnostic test (spontaneous speaking and reading – at the beginning of the academic year)
  
• 
  progress test (spontaneous speaking and reading – at the end of the academic year).
  

• 
  pass tests,
  
• 
  attend the classes regularly (one absence i.e. two hours without the justification is acceptable)
  
• 
  do regular home assignments,
  
• 
  participate in the class activities in an active way.
  

Type of task	Number of hours/ student’s workload
Lecture		15 godz.
practical class		30 godz.
preparation for a practical class		35 godz.
teacher consultation		4 godz.
preparation for a theory test and exam		15 godz.
Review		1 godz.
NUMBER OF HOURS		100 godz.
TOTAL ECTS POINTS		4

1. Roach, P. (1995) English Phonetics and Phonology: a Practical Course, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

2. Sobkowiak, W. & Szpyra, J. (1995) Workbook in English Phonetics, Poznań: Nakom.
practical class:

1. Mańkowska A., M. Nowacka, M. Kłoczowska. 2009. “How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck?”: English Pronunciation Practice Book, Rzeszów: Konsorcjum Akademickie.

2. Wells, J. C. (2000) Pronunciation Dictionary, Essex: Longman.
SUPPLEMENTAL OR OPTIONAL BOOKS/READINGS:

1. Jones, D. (1997) English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

2. Nowacka, M. et al. (2011) Sally Meets Harry: Practical Primer to English Pronunciation and Spelling, Rzeszów: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego.

3. Sobkowiak, W. (1996) English Phonetics For Poles, Poznań: Bene Nati.