Ciencias de la Educación- Artículo Original

Analytic-linguistic approach on enhancing English language pronunciation among junior high school students

Enfoque analítico-lingüístico para mejorar la pronunciación del idioma inglés en estudiantes de educación secundaria

Authors

Abstract

English pronunciation plays a critical role in language acquisition. It can be quite demanding for non-native English speakers in Ecuador due to scarce pronunciation resources in its educational system. This research project aimed to enhance the English pronunciation skills of high school students attending a private school in Cuenca, Ecuador, by using the analytic-linguistic approach. The study followed an action research model spanning five weeks and included both pre- and post-test assessments. Participants took part in learning sessions aimed at tackling pronunciation challenges such as vowel sounds (/ɪ/, /i:/), clusters starting with /s/, and stress and intonation patterns. The results showed enhanced pronunciation skills as the average score increased from 5.47 during the assessment to 9.04 after the sessions. The study concluded that the analytic approach offers a structure for improving pronunciation skills. However, further research is necessary to assess its lasting effects and wider usefulness.

La pronunciación del inglés desempeña un papel fundamental en la adquisición del idioma. Puede resultar bastante exigente para hablantes no nativos de inglés en Ecuador debido a la escasez de recursos dentro del sistema educativo. Este proyecto de investigación tuvo como objetivo mejorar las habilidades de pronunciación en inglés de estudiantes de colegio de una institución educativa privada de Cuenca, Ecuador, mediante el uso del enfoque analítico-lingüístico. El estudio siguió un modelo de investigación-acción durante cinco semanas e incluyó evaluaciones de pretest y postest. Los participantes tuvieron sesiones de aprendizaje centradas en dificultades de pronunciación como los sonidos vocálicos (/ɪ/, /iː/), los grupos consonánticos que comienzan con /s/, así como patrones de acentuación y entonación. Los resultados mostraron una mejora en la pronunciación, ya que el promedio de calificaciones aumentó de 5,47 en la evaluación inicial a 9,04 después de la intervención. El estudio concluyó que el enfoque analítico-lingüístico proporciona una estructura eficaz para mejorar las habilidades de pronunciación. Sin embargo, se requieren investigaciones adicionales para evaluar sus efectos a largo plazo y su utilidad en otros contextos.

Keywords

  • Pronunciation challenges
  • articulatory training
  • explicit instruction
  • minimal pairs
  • Phonetic transcription

Author Biographies

  • Mgtr. Darío Josué Maldonado, Universidad Nacional de Loja

    Darío Josué Maldonado Juca, Mgs., earned his Master's degree in Pedagogy of English as a Foreign Language from the National University of Loja. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Cuenca. Currently, he works as a teacher at a private school in the city of Cuenca, teaching English and preparing students for Cambridge international exams.

  • Ph.D. Miriam Eucevia Troya Sánchez, Universidad Nacional de Loja

    Miriam Eucevia Troya Sánchez, M.Sc./Ph.D., holds a Master's degree in Educational Management and Leadership and another Master's degree in National and Foreign Languages ​​from the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. She also holds a doctorate in Educational Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata. She earned her Bachelor's degree in English from the Universidad Nacional de Loja. Currently, she serves as the director of the Master's Program in Pedagogy of English as a Foreign Language at the Universidad Nacional de Loja. She is also a research professor in the Master's Program in Educational Management and in the National and Foreign Languages ​​program at the same university. She has taught research and English language courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as general English at various educational levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and postgraduate. He participated in various academic and scientific events, with several published scientific articles, presentations, and various courses related to research, teaching, and the use of artificial intelligence.

References

Asrul, N., & Husda, A. (2022). Enhancing pronunciation skills through phonetic method. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(3), 4167-4176. DOI: 10.35445/alishlah.v14i3.394

Avery, P., & Ehrlich, S. (1992). Teaching American English Pronunciation. Oxford University Press.

Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education: principles, policy & practice, 5(1), 7-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0969595980050102

Blevins, W. (1998). Phonics from A to Z: A practical guide. Scholastic Inc.

Calvo Benzies, Y. J. (2013). Advanced Spanish university students’ problems with the pronunciation of English vowels. Identification, analysis, and teaching implications.

Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., & Goodwin, J. M. (2010). Teaching pronunciation: A course book and reference guide (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Colliver, J. A., Conlee, M. J., & Verhulst, S. J. (2012). From test validity to construct validity… and back? Medical Education, 46(4), 366-371. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.04194.x

Couper, G. (2022). A Conceptual Approach to Teaching L2 Pronunciation: Perception of Word Stress. TESL-EJ, 26(1), n1. https://doi.org/10.55593/ej.26101a6

Dankanjanakpan, N., & Sinwongsuwat, K. (2025). Using CA-informed transcription symbols in conversation teaching to improve Thai EFL learners’ English stress and intonation. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 18(2), 317-350. https://doi.org/10.70730/LBIW6581

Derwing, T. M., & Munro, M. J. (2015). Pronunciation Fundamentals: Evidence-based perspectives for L2 teaching and research. John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Enciso, O. L. U., Hernandez, S. S. F., Pita, K. L. V., & Pabón, A. S. R. (2019). Problematic phonemes for Spanish speakers' learners of English. Gist: Education and Learning Research Journal, (19), 215-238. https://doi.org/10.26817/16925777.701

Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1-4.

Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. W. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Pearson.

Hafiza, R. I., Abbas, T., & Rasheed, B. (2024). Efficacy of Phonological Instructions in Improving ESL Students' Pronunciation. Jahan-e-Tahqeeq, 7(2), 1015-1025.

Irawan, B., & Tampubolon, M. A. (2020). Using Phonetic Transcription to Improve Students’ Pronunciation Skills. Edulingua: Jurnal Linguistiks Terapan dan Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, 7(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.34001/edulingua.v7i2

Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1988). The Action Research Planner. Geelong: Deakin University Press.

Mahmood, R. Q. (2023). Enhancing EFL speaking and pronunciation skills: Using explicit formal instruction in a Kurdish university. Issues in Educational Research, 33(4), 1421-1440. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.T2024050100000690433599402

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2015). Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge.

Namaziandost, E., Esfahani, F. R., & Hashemifardnia, A. (2018). The effect of teaching phonological rules on English pronunciation among Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners. European Journal of English Language Teaching. DOI: 10.30575/2017/IJLRES-2019010401

Quarto, M. P. (2022). Teaching American English Pronunciation in a Spanish-Speaking Context: A Guide for EFL Teachers in Chile.

Sharma, L. R. (2021). Effectiveness of Teaching the Pronunciation of Inflection Through an Analytic-Linguistic Approach. International Research Journal of MMC (IRJMMC), 2(2), 77-94. https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v2i2.38152

Swan, M., & Smith, B. (2001). Learner English: A teacher's guide to interference and other problems (Vol. 1). Cambridge University Press.

Yakut, İ. (2020). Promoting the correct production of English sounds in extensive reading-circle classes: Explicit vs. implicit pronunciation training. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 6(1), 101-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.32601/ejal.710224

Zhang, W., Chang, H., & Liao, Y. (2021). Effects of recasts and clarification requests on suprasegment development of English intonation. Porta Linguarum, 35, 311–325. https://doi.org/10.30827/portalin.v0i35.16949

Published

August 4, 2026

History

Received
23 Jun 2026
Accepted
31 Jul 2026
Published
4 Aug 2026

Metrics

173 downloads

  1. 2026-04: 0
  2. 2026-05: 0
  3. 2026-06: 0
  4. 2026-07: 0
  5. 2026-08: 0
  6. 2026-09: 9
  7. 2026-10: 164

last 7 months

How to Cite

Maldonado Juca, D. J., & Troya Sánchez, M. E. (2026). Analytic-linguistic approach on enhancing English language pronunciation among junior high school students. Contemporary Research, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.58995/redlic.rmic.v4.n4.a244