The Effectiveness of English Songs in Enhancing Linking Sounds For EFL Students at Bach Khoa Sai Gon College

Abstract

Linking sounds, crucial features of connected speech, pose significant challenges to Vietnamese English learners due to the phonological disparities between Vietnamese and English. This quasi-experimental study investigates the use of English songs in teaching linking sounds to Vietnamese EFL learners at Bach Khoa Sai Gon College. Participants included a treatment group receiving instruction through English songs and a control group undergoing traditional pronunciation instruction. Quantitative data from pretests and posttests, supplemented by learners’ perception questionnaire, revealed statistically significant improvements in the ability to recognize and produce linking sounds in the experimental group. The study highlights the pedagogical value of incorporating music into the teaching of pronunciation and provides implications for future research and classroom practices.