Improving English Pronunciation by Using Instructive Musical Exercises: University Teaching Context in Serbia

Abstract

The paper examines the influence of the application of instructive musical exercises on better and more correct pronunciation of certain sentences in English. In relation to the type of sentences (interrogative in form of questions, affirmative with adjuncts and if-clauses) and the intonation of the pronunciation of words and phrases within the sentences, a melody was specially composed for each sentence, and the primary criterion was matching the melodic flow with the intonation of the sentence. The training was implemented with participants (future preschool teachers) in the first year of undergraduate studies in May 2022. Students were tested before and after the training. The results of the conducted research showed that instructive musical exercises based on the common elements of language and music, aimed at solving a specific problem, contributed to a more precise pronunciation of certain words and given sentences in terms of accents, rhythm, pitch and intonation.