Investigating EFL Teachers’ Difficulties in Connected Speech

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.