Lo Que No Mata, Engorda: Nicaragua

Misty Fergusen (an ELF volunteer here in Nicaragua) told me during Pre-Service Training:

“One of the best things about working in the university is that you’ll be asked to teach something you know nothing about, you’ll study up on it, and in the end you’ll find you really like it” (not an exact quote, but super close!)

It’s so true! I LOVE teaching phonetics. Don’t get me wrong, I was scared to death at the start. What the heck are all those symbols? I have to teach those? 15 vowel sounds – seriously? Rhythm, Stress, Intonation, Phonology – examples please!

I pulled every book from the UNAN library, talked to various other PC volunteers, and studied.

But the work paid off. We just finished the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Now I can explain how to produce any sound in US English with both technical and casual language. My students have learned how to differentiate some of the “hardest” English sounds. They also now have a better understanding of how to explain these differences to their future students!  Who would have thought that they would love phonetics?!?! They say it’s hard, but interesting and very useful. They thank the English director for sending them a “gringa.”

We’ll finish the class this month with those other scary topics – stress, intonation, and phonology. Rhythm will have to wait until the 2nd semester (if I teach it). It’s more complicated and we just don’t have the time this semester. I’m happy, though, because it’ll give me more time to study up on it – I’m still a little confused about the whole thing. I get it on the surface level … kinda … but definitely not comfortable teaching it quite yet.

All in all, my new found interest = English Pronunciation (via phonetics)

I’m a nerd, I know 

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