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1. UNIVERSIDAD MAGISTER
FACULTAD DE EDUCACIÓN
CARRERA DE LICENCIATURA EN LA
ENSEÑANZA DEL INGLÉS
MEMORIA DE SEMINARIO DE GRADUACIÓN PARA OPTAR
AL GRADO DE LICENCIATURA EN ENSEÑANZA DEL
INGLÉS
“ANALYSIS OF THE ORAL ENGLISH LEVEL OF
INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH STUDENTS AT ENGLISH
BRIDGE INSTITUTE, CARTAGO 2018”
MARTHA CASTILLO
DAYAN ALVARADO
SETIEMBRE, 2018

2. JUSTIFICATION
The correct communication competence is fundamental in the
acquisition of a new language, being able to pronounce the
words properly and acquiring the ability of reproducing the
sounds in the right way is something students need to learn
from their teachers, so they can become more familiar and
comfortable speaking English.

3. JUSTIFICACTION
• Based on the current problems about pronunciation of
vowels sounds detected by observation, it is reached the
problem statement of this study:
• How to improve the level of pronunciation of the different
vowel sounds by using the colors in Intermediate English
students at English Bridge Institute, Cartago 2018?

4. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To determine the oral level of Intermediate English students
with the purpose of enhancing the pronunciation of the vowel
sounds from the students at English Bridge Institute, Cartago
2018.

5. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• To state the internal and external factors that EFL students face when
pronouncing words in English for improving them.
• To recognize the techniques for improving pronunciation that
students use in the EFL class with the purpose of applying other
effective methods that strengthen their pronunciation.

6. • To identify the role of pronunciation of English vowel sounds in the
process of English communication on intermediate English students
for improving these specific sounds; pronunciation will suffer a
positive change.
• To determine the strategies used by teachers when teach English
pronunciation to Intermediate English students for reinforcing them
or giving alternatives.
• To develop a proposal of techniques for English instructors with the
purpose of teaching and practicing pronunciation in the classroom.

7. VARIABLES
• Internal and external factors that students face when
learning EFL.
• Techniques that students use when learning EFL.
• Role of pronunciation of English in the process of English
communication.
• Strategies used by teachers when teach English
pronunciation.

8. THE INSTITUTION: ENGLISH BRIDGE INSTITUTE
• Located in Guadalupe, Cartago.
• It was funded in 2009, as an institution that is focused in
the intensive teaching of English for those people with a big
desire of acquiring English as a Foreign language but who at
the same time have time limitations.
• Its population is about 60 students and 18 staff.

9. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• The meaning of “education” is derived from the Latin
“Educare” (Educere); which means to train, and “Educatum”,
which denotes the act of teaching. These terms indicate
development of the latent faculties of the child.
• It is the teacher who can know them and take appropriate
methods to develop those powers.

10. “Pronunciation refers to how we produce the
sounds that we use to make meaning when we
speak. It includes the particular consonants and
vowels of a language.” Lynda Yates and Beth
Zielinski (2009: p. 11)

11. METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK
• DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: Descriptive research is the procedure used in science to
describe the characteristics of the phenomenon, subject or population to be studied.
It includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds.
• ANALYTICAL RESEARCH: In analytical research, the researcher must use facts or
information already available and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the
material. It involves the exhaustive study and evaluation of available information in
an attempt to explain a complex phenomenon.

12. • APPLIED RESEARCH: The main objective of applied research is to generate
knowledge through a direct application to problems. In other words, this type of
research is based on linking the process between theory and practice.
• FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH: Fundamental research concerns about natural
phenomenon or it is also related with mathematics. This type of research consists in
formulating new theories or in some way, making modifications to existing theories
as well as in the increase of scientific or philosophical knowledge, but without
making a differentiation with contrast other aspects.
METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

13. • EXPLORATORY RESEARCH: Exploratory research allows people to
access the first approach of a problem to study and know. The first
phase of this type of research is to know the topic that is wanted to
be address. When entering into this process, the results allow us to
have a simple panorama or superficial knowledge of the subject,
which will later lead the researcher to delve into more studies.
• ACTION RESEARCH: This research is a common-sense approach to
personal and professional development that enables practitioners
to investigate and evaluate their work, and to create their own
theories of practice.
METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

14. • QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: Quantitative research is based on the
measurement of quantity. It collects and analyzes data obtained from
different sources like, statistics, and mathematical tools to produce results.
• QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: It is concerned with qualitative phenomenon,
involving quality or kind. This type of research aims at discovering motives
and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose.
• MIXED RESEARCH: All other types of research are variations of one or
more of the above stated approaches, based on either the purpose of
research, or the time required to accomplish research.
METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

15. ANALYSIS OF THE OBSERVATION
• There is not specific time for teaching pronunciation.
• Teachers do not have ways to improve pronunciation.
• Teacher corrects the mispronounced words only at the
moment the students make mistakes.
• Pronunciation improvements are rarely evaluated.

16. ANALYSIS OF THE INTERVIEW
• Teachers mentioned that they do not include in their classes
time for pronunciation.
• Teachers consider pronunciation as an important key for
communicating in English.
• The only time where they encourage students to have a
good pronunciation is during oral final projects.
• Teachers say that they do not have material for teaching
pronunciation.

17. ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES
PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS AFFECT COMMUNICATION
25%
65%
10%
0%
Too much Much Not too much Nothing

18. BENEFITS OF HAVING GOOD PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
LANGUAGE FOR STUDENTS
80%
20%
0% 0%
Too much Much Not too much Nothing

19. MAIN SOURCE STUDENTS TURN TO WHEN THEY HAVE DOUBTS
ABOUT THE PRONUNCIATION OF A WORD
65%
5%
30%
0%
Teacher Classmates Internet Dictionary

20. SOUNDS THAT PRESENT BIGGER PROBLEMS IN PRONUNCIATION
30%
15%
25%
30%
Vowel sounds Consonant sounds Diphtongs Consonant clusters

21. IMPORTANCE OF DEVOTING MORE TIME TO THE IMPROVEMENT
OF PRONUNCIATION
65%
35%
0 0
Too much Much Not too much Nothing

22. CONCLUSIONS
• There is not enough time invested in the improvment of
pronunciation inside and outside the class.
• Teacher and students consider pronunciation extremely
important for an appropriate oral communication.

23. • There are not enough materials and methods for imroving
pronunciation.
• The way students clarify their pronunciation doubts is
through the teacher.
• The sounds that give more trouble to students are vowel
sounds and diphthongs.

24. GENERAL CONCLUSION
• English Bridge Institute is not providing enough space or
materials to the imrpovement of pronunciation, even when
they are focused in the oral skills.
• Students and teachers consider very important to have a
good pronunciation.

25. COST OF THE STUDY

26. RECOMMENDATIONS
• To focus on the oral performance of students with the
intention of training them to be able to communicate
orally with native and non-native speakers.
• To implement attractive methodology which is easy to
understand and that can be adjusted to any level and
be followed properly, will be developed in the next
section.
• To train, both students and teachers at English Bridge
Institute, on the accurate pronunciation of English
language.

27. PROPOSAL OF THE
APPLICATION OF A
METHOD CALLED “THE
COLOR VOWEL CHART”
TO IMPROVE THE
PRONUNCIATION LEVEL
OF INTERMEDIATE
ENGLISH STUDENTS

28. JUSTIFICATION
• Learning the correct pronunciation of the words in English; is
not a detail that can be ignored. Pronunciation is
fundamental and has a very relevant role for the correct
communication in the target language.
• The most common method used to promote the
improvement of pronunciation basically consists on
correcting the errors of pronunciation that are happening
during the lesson.

29. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To propose the implementation of an innovative method for
teaching English pronunciation to Intermediate English
students at English Bridge Institute, Cartago.

30. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• To design a series of training sessions to introduce “The
Color Vowel Chart” to EFL students of intermediate level at
English Bridge Institute, Cartago.
• To implement “The Color Vowel Chart” as a tool for
improving the level of English pronunciation of EFL students
of intermediate level at English Bridge Institute, Cartago.

31. PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
PHASE 1: INTRODUCTION
PHASE 2: APPLICATION OF THE
METHOD: “THE COLOR VOWEL CHART”
INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS: IMPORTANCE
OF A GOOD PRONUNCIATION
INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS: WHAT IS “THE
COLOR VOWEL CHART”
COSTRUCTING THE “CHART” USING THE CHART IN THE CLASS

32. PHASE 1: INTRODUCTION ABOUT
PRONUNCIATION

33. PHASE 1: INTRODUCTION ABOUT “THE COLOR
VOWEL CHART”

34. PHASE 2: APPLICATION OF THE METHOD:
CONSTRUCTING THE “CHART”

35. PHASE 2: APPLICATION OF THE METHOD IN THE
CLASS

36. COST OF THE PROPOSAL
ITEM AMOUNT UNIT COST
(COLONES)
TOTAL COST
(COLONES)
TOTAL
COST
(DOLLARS)
Transportation
10 2.500,00 25.000,00 44.16
Papers and printing
20 150,00 3.000,00 5.30
Professional hours
10 13.602,60 136.000,00 240.21
Total
202.000,00 289.67
Source: Alvarado, Dayan & Castillo, Martha (2018)
Note: Exchange rate established at 566 colones per dollar by BCCR on August 7th, 2018
Professional hours established by COLYPRO at 13602.6 colones on May 10th
, 2016

37. SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGHTS
• Training sessions to apply this proposal do not take long.
• This innovative method for pronunciation, attracts the
attention of students and teachers.
• The costs for applying this method is low.
• The focus is on the pronunciation sub-skill, contributing to
enhancing the confidence of the students in the oral
performance.

38. WEAKNESSES
• For this proposal, the teaching method is been applied only to
intermediate level students.
• The application of this proposal is been done during half of the
course, though the ideal would have been at the beginning of the
course.

39. OPPORTUNITIES
• The method can be applied to all levels since beginners.
• With the proper training, it is possible for teachers to start
applying this method since childhood.
• This new and innovative method can be applied throughout
the country since kindergarten, enhancing oral performance
of students.

40. • The Ministry of Public Education of Costa Rica, due to its low
cost and easy application can be introduced to the current
curriculum in levels such as in Third Cycle and Diversified
Education.
• Private Schools and Colleges since part of their curriculum
includes a lot of oral participation by their students and this
instrument aims to improve verbal communication.

41. THREATS
• Because the method chosen in this proposal is new, teachers
and authorities of the school may not feel completely certain
about applying it to every level.
• The lack of disposition of teachers to train themselves to teach
this new method can affect directly the results.
• At the beginning of the teaching process, this might take a while
for students to get used to, which may influence their interest in
the topic.

42. IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSAL
INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT: The most important impact
for the educational institution is that it has a very low
cost, despite being an extremely useful and efficient
method.
COMMUNITY IMPACT: Once English students master
this dynamic, simple and efficient technique; they can
not only use it themselves for their own benefit, but
on the other hand they can contribute to the
improvement of the pronunciation of other people
including family, friends, neighbors among others.

43. OTHER STUDIES DERIVED
In the future, other students can make a proposal on:
• How to use the “Color Vowel Chart” in the classroom for
beginners or other levels, since our proposal is based on
Intermediate level.
• The use of color as a way of improving pronunciation is a
method that is oriented to vowels and diphthongs sounds
but there could be variations for this amazing method of
teaching pronunciation.
• Combine technology and the Color Vowel Chart to
develop a system or an app that will help students learn
the correct pronunciation of the words.