Phonetic-practice based training to enhance transcription and pronunciation awareness

The current study sought to determine whether a phonetic-based language learning program helped to improve students' (in Saudi Arabic) transcription and pronunciation awareness. Two parallel groups (comprised 32 EFL male English language students) were selected and assigned as ‘control’ and ‘experimental’. The control group was taught using the traditional teaching approach. The experimental group was taught using strategies to raise phonetic awareness. Results revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group across the stated outcomes. Moreover, the experimental group completed the task over a shorter time period compared to the control group. It is apparent from the data analysis that phonetic-based language learning can facilitate significant changes in learners' transcription and pronunciation awareness and performance. Therefore, when convening phonetics courses in the future, more attention should be given to the application of phonetics in practice rather than phonetics theory in order to enhance students' transcription and pronunciation awareness.