Recording and Listening: A Strategy for Improving Phonetic Pronunciation.

Using microphones and recording tools in phonetic language activities is a powerful strategy for improving pronunciation while encouraging self-assessment in preschool students. With various software options such as Audacity,  seesaw, or even the built-in voice recorders on tablets, children can record their voices as they practice sounds, rhymes, or individual words. In my class, students also work in pairs to record rhyming songs or practice the initial sounds of words.

Each time they record, children can listen to their voices, allowing them to identify the areas they need to improve. This enhances their reflexes and phonological awareness. For example, one of my recent activities involved recording children reciting a short poem and comparing their recordings to a model.

The children enjoyed " playing" with their voices while learning simultaneously. This is one of the most beneficial strategies for students who bring a second language from home, as it helps them learn to pronounce phonemes independently, which can often be challenging. All of this is done engagingly and enjoyably!