The State of Teaching and Learning English Pronunciation in Malaysia: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The study was motivated by the criticism that Malaysian speakers „abuse‟ English pronunciation, and also by the announcement that standard British English (presumably based on Received Pronunciation (RP) or BBC English) is to be used as a pronunciation model in the new English language curriculum in Malaysia. Underlying the issue of the choice of a pronunciation model are actual teaching and learning practices. In relation to this, this paper looks at the extent to which English pronunciation is taught in schools, and at the perceptions of teachers and students toward the teaching and learning of pronunciation. The findings indicate that the teaching and learning of pronunciation is a much neglected component despite it being in the syllabus and being regarded as important by the teacher and student respondents. Further, there appears to be an „ours- versus-theirs‟ conflict between the use of a localized accent as opposed to a native speaker one such as British English.