USING TONGUE TWISTER TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE FIRST-YEAR NON-ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION

Abstract

Pronunciation is an essential element of effective English communication and needs a development
through various methods. The study investigates the application of tongue twister as a technique to improve
first-year non-English major students through a seven-stage action research process. Quantitative data were
collected through pre- and post-pronunciation tests, measuring students' improvement over the course while
qualitative insights were drawn from students’ reflective reports to capture their personal experiences and
perspectives on the technique. The findings demonstrated that tongue twister led to significant improvements
in students' pronunciation of sounds, allowing for greater accuracy and consistency. Moreover, participants
showed marked progress in applying correct word stress, intonation patterns, and experienced a reduction in
pauses and hesitation for better fluency in their spoken English. Overall, the study highlights tongue twister as
a practical and engaging strategy for improving various aspects of English pronunciation, making it a valuable
tool for teaching English, especially to non-English major students in their fields.