INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN GURU

KAMPUS KENT

WEEKLY REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL WEEK 2

(13.02.2017 17.02.2017)

NAME : YOUNG POH PING

OPTION : PISMP TESL (SJKC) JANUARY 2014 INTAKE

SCHOOL : SK ST. JOHN, TUARAN

DATE : 13.02.2017 17.02.2017

1 Issues/ Problems/ Events
Pronunciation is the most important skill of spoken English. Not surprisingly,
pronunciation instruction plays a significant role in the teaching of English as a
second language.
I realised that a majority of pupils in my class have pronunciation problems.
Some of the words that pupils often mispronounced are could not, badminton
court, shuttlecocks.
2 Thoughts And View Regarding The Issues/ Problems/ Events
I greatly think that the pupils first language influences the pronunciation of the
target language. The interference from the first language is likely to cause errors
in aspiration, stress, and intonation in the target language. Since most of the
pupils in this class were always speak Malay, they tend to have difficulty with
English sounds because they are deeply influenced by similar Malay sounds.
Another factor contributed to the pronunciation problems among pupils was the
lack of exposure to English Language. Pupils only have the opportunity to listen
and speak English during English lesson. Therefore, pupils in this class have
trouble in perceiving new sounds.
3 Analysis Of Issue/ Problems/ Events
3.1 Causes
Low English proficiency
Influence of mother tongue
Lack of English exposure

3.2 Strengths/ Weaknesses

Pupils who mispronounced some words may cause misunderstanding during a
conversation.
3.3 Predicted Effects/ Outcomes (If No Actions Were Taken)
Pupils tend to continue with the mispronunciation of words.
 Objective of the lesson failed to achieve.
4 Suggestions To Overcome The Causes/ Weaknesses
One of the ways to improve pupils pronunciation problems was drilling.
Whenever a mispronounced word is noticed, a teacher need to immediately
correct the mistakes and lead the pupils to repeat the words for a few times so
that they can realise the mistakes and remember the correct pronunciation.
Teacher can make notes of common pronunciation errors made by multiple
students for the whole class to work on together. Teacher can also jot errors on
note cards and hand the note cards to individual students. Teacher can take the
initiative to write the sounds on whiteboard so that pupils can associate the
spoken sounds with the written words.
Teacher should be a good model for pupils and check the correct pronunciation
before the lesson.
It is also important for teacher to avoid making fun of a mispronunciation or
allowing other students to mock the person who made the error. In all cases,
teacher should avoid making fun of student errors, even if the student seems to
have a self-deprecating sense of humor.
5 Timeframe To Overcome The Causes/ Weaknesses
Three months (Throughout the practicum period)
Teacher Trainee Lecturer Mentor

___________________ _______________________ ___________________

(YOUNG POH PING) (FEDELIA@ESTHER (LARRY LUCIEN)
MATHEW SIPAUN)