Teaching Linking in Connected Speech to Non-English Majors: A Case Study at University of Finance – Marketing

Abstract: English words are linked to one another in utterances; therefore, knowing how to link individual words properly in English connected speech is crucial to improve students’ perception and production of spoken English. However, linking in connected speech has nearly been ignored in General English courses for students whose major is not English at University of Finance-Marketing (UFM). The study done for and reported in this paper aims to investigate how linking in connected speech has been recently taught through a quasi-experiment, with a Pre-test and Post-test research design on a sample of 70 non-English majors at UFM. The study’s results reveal that (i) linking has not been taught explicitly to the vast majority of the student subjects, (ii) their comprehension as well as performance has remarkably been improved after the experimental teaching, and (iii) the teaching technique using linking as means to teach other modifications of sounds in English connected speech is highly appreciated by the students. Based on the study’s findings, some conclusions and recommendations have been made for both Vietnamese teachers of English and non-English majors at UFM. Keywords: linking, connected speech, perception, production, spoken English