Pronunciation Barriers and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL): Coping the Demands of 21st Century in Second Language Learning Classroom in Pakistan

Pronunciation of English language is a very important sub-skill of speaking module in second language learningprocess. However, it is ignored, neglected, and even never gotten least attention by the teachers, administrators, andstakeholders especially in Pakistan. Grammar, vocabulary, and the other linguistic skills such as reading and writingare emphasized whereas pronunciation has never been focused in language classes. That is why, Pakistani learnershave to face a lot of pronunciation problems and they are unable to speak English even after years of learning English.Computer technology provides its learners with a wide variety of different pedagogical tools for pronunciation learningand teaching. Computer augmented instructions have always been proved beneficial. Teachers and learners can usecomputer technology for the production and articulation of the sounds and they can be familiar with stress andintonation pattern resulting in the reduction of the pronunciation barriers. This article discusses the status ofpronunciation and prevailed approach of pronunciation teaching in Pakistan. So, the purpose of this study is tohighlight the importance of computer aided instructions for pronunciation teaching at the school level in Pakistan.

Keywords:

pronunciation , segmental , suprasegmental , computer-aided teaching , multimedia