Definion of sound

Oral Communication Skills Training
Unit 3:
Deciding What to Teach

British, American and other varieties of English each have distinctive features, especially in the vowel system

How do we decide which model to teach?
Is English one of the languages used for communication among people in your country among themselves (not to expatriates)?
If yes, is there a model of English special to your country and acceptable to educated speakers in your country?
If no, go to next
slide.
Teach this model
Does your country have historical connections with a country where English is the “native language” of most people?
1. If yes, do most people in your country regard this model as a standard?
2. If yes, are most English textbooks used in your country written in this model?
If yes to 1 and 2, use this model
If yes to 1 but no to 2, teach both models.
If no, go to
the next slide
Do textbooks used in your
country represent a variety
of models?
Is access to international media readily available?
If the answer is yes to both questions, then make students aware of more than one model and let them choose.
Even if you teach only one model,
it is a good idea to give students an opportunity to listen to a variety of accents.
Which contrasts to teach
Depends on differences between
The model you’ve
chosen
The sound system of your
students’ language