Using a Phonetics Transcription to Improve Word Stress in Pronunciation for Thai Learners

The purposes of this study aimed to explore and improve learners’ pronunciation focusing on word stress through a phonetics transcription. The study attempted to determine: a) whether a phonetics transcription can enhance the ability of university-level learners’ in pronouncing word stress and; b) what are the attitudes of learners towards a phonetics transcription. To achieve these purposes, a purposive sample of first year bachelor’s degree learners majoring in English for International Communication at Rajamanagala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima were selected as the participants. The instruments of this study comprised pre and post pronunciation tests, and a questionnaire. The quantitative data were analyzed and interpreted with the use of frequencies, mean and standard deviation (S.D). The qualitative data were presented in forms of narrative descriptions. The results positively answered the research questions by showing that the target learners who participated in the study in English Phonetics Course were able to pronounce word stress more accurately after learning through phonetic transcriptions. These results were significant at a level of 0.01. In additional, their abilities in word stress pronunciation reflected their positive attitudes through using a phonetic transcription.