Senior citizen should learn English pronunciation again (노인들 영어발음 다시배워야)

[혜석]

                                    Senior citizen should learn English pronunciation again

Very often, foreigners who visit Korea are surprised that they cannot easily make themselves understood in English. sometimes, of course, native speakers of English speak too quickly; often though, the problem is caused by the way they reduce, elide, contract sounds. so that words no longer sound like the dictionary says they should.

In accordance with, pronunciation is a life of language that we should  be to learn foreign language. but we, senior citizen, had been learning English pronunciation in Japanese style with 18th century's colonial period, and they only emphasized that grammar is very important thing for the students. as a natural consequence, translation is an index of his English capacity.

Though upon this, they had been learning English 10 years or more, They couldn't communicate with native speaker freely. Then, why such a thing happen like this, I think there are a few reasons.

In the First place, they were thought wrong educated English in the school days.

Secondly, they don't practise English to ear training and drill to neglect students in the pronunciation of English.

Finally, they rarely have a chance to meet a native speaker and have no use to communicate with foreigners any more.

But now a days, society has changed rapidly and our country's economy entered developed country so we had many opportunity to the need of English in speaking (writing), business, international trade contracts, scientific papers ,computer's technical terms and sightseeing.

From now on, to improve your English speaking skills you should be taught following items : contracted form, reduced form, elision, and linking, etc also we must carefully access of English intonation with regular stress and rhythm.

Lastly, one should constantly listen English radio or watch TV every day, if circumstance are given, and read and speak English very loudly as much possible as you can.

Do you know this famous saying?

"Rome was not built in a day", always keep your mind.

 and someday, I am sure that you will have a good command of English.