Investigating EFL Teachers’ Difficulties in Connected Speech

Abstract

Abstract: English teachers must have adequtae knowledge of pronunciation like phonetics and phonology. They also must be able to perform a good speaking performance as they must be linguistic models for their students in the class. This study investiagted several phonological aspects of connected speech such as linking, elision, and assimilation by EFL English teachers. The result revealed that assimilation was the most difficult phonological aspects of connected speech rather than linking or elision. The major difference between English and native language of the teachers could be the main reason of their contrains related to connected speech aspects. Abstrak: Guru bahasa Inggris harus memiliki pengetahuan yang memadai tentang pengucapan seperti fonetik dan fonologi. Mereka juga harus mampu berbicara dengan baik karena mereka harus menjadi panutan bagi siswa mereka di kelas. Penelitian ini menyelidiki beberapa aspek fonologis dari connected speech, seperti linking, elision, dan assimilation oleh guru bahasa Inggris. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa asimilasi merupakan aspek fonologis yang paling sulit daripada linking atau elision. Perbedaan utama antara bahasa Inggris dan bahasa pertama guru bisa menjadi alasan utama kendala yang dialami mereka terkait dengan aspek tersebut.