Great reference book

Although I rarely teach full pronunciation courses in Japan,I find this book to be quite useful. It has been years since I completed a TESOL program in the US and I have forgotten some of the pronunciation techniques.

This book does and excellent job of explaining them in detail---along with somewhat useful diagrams. It covers everything from simple pronunciation of vowels and consonants, to sounds in context, vowel reduction and word stress, and connected speech.

In addition, it has a section on specific problems that different nationalities may have with English pronunciation and gives ideas on how to address these. Activities and exercises are also given to help one in planning a lesson, or perhaps even a course on pronunciation.

One problem may be that if a Berlitz instructor were to read this text he or she would then understand even more how absurd the material they are required to use is.