ELTWeekly Issue#80

#80, Susan Ryan’s Tip: ‘The Importance of the Schwa Vowel Sound’

Post author:Tarun Patel
Post published:January 22, 2011
Post category:ELT Articles and Research Papers ELT Newsletter ELT Research Articles ELT Research Papers ELTWeekly Issue#80
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In order to improve your English pronunciation it is critical that you learn to use the schwa sound. That is because the combination of stressed syllables with long clear vowels and unstressed syllables with the schwa vowel sound help to create the rhythm of spoken English. Native English speakers listen for this rhythm and it helps them to identify words.

What is the schwa sound?

The schwa is a vowel sound, it is not a letter of the alphabet. It sounds like “uh” and is pronounced with your tongue in the middle section of your mouth. Your mouth should be very relaxed when you say this sound. Because the schwa sound can be represented by any vowel, it is the most common vowel sound in English. The IPA symbol for the schwa sound is /ə/.

Here are some examples of how native English speakers use the schwa vowel sound in words with more than one syllable. In the first group of words below the vowel in first syllable is stressed and the vowel in the second syllable sounds like a schwa /ə/. (more…)

#80, Article: ‘ICT in Education: HOW and WHAT to study in 21st Century?’ – UNESCO Tashkent

Post author:Tarun Patel
Post published:January 22, 2011
Post category:ELT Newsletter ELT Research Articles ELT Research Papers ELTWeekly Issue#80
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"Enhancing educational quality is a constant process and is our top priority. Education systems work to prepare the next generation for a successful future in a changing world, the knowledge…

#80, Research Paper: ‘A Problem Tense to Teach: The Present Perfect’ by İsmail ÇAKIR

Post author:Tarun Patel
Post published:January 22, 2011
Post category:ELT Newsletter ELT Research Articles ELT Research Papers ELTWeekly Issue#80
Post comments:4 Comments

A PROBLEMATIC TENSE TO TEACH: THE PRESENT PERFECT

The perfect in English creates problems for both elementary and advanced learners. It is interpreted frequently as an optional alternative to the simple past tense; this interpretation of its function leads to frequent errors of tense usage. Difficulties with the present perfect tense are often reinforced by faulty teaching. The basic uses of the perfect are outlined and contrasted with the functions of the simple past tense. (Richards, 1979:95)

1. Introduction

The present perfect tense is one of the most, probably the most, problematic tenses for foreign language learners. It is not so easy to learn for foreign language learners, Turkish students in this study, to be able to use the present perfect tense correctly and appropriately for the appropriate situations as they have difficulties in grasping it. This tense is usually confused with the simple past by the Turkish students. The differences between the present perfect and the past simple are complicated and difficult to analyse, and the rules given in grammars are not always very clear and accurate (Swan, 1982:493). Not only in Turkish but also in many of the European languages present perfect is used as the simple past tense. Even American usage is also not exactly the same as British. (more…)