Learning English Phonetics: Preferences, Attitudes and Expectations of Libyan EFL University Students

Abstract

The goal of this study is to explore the impact of learning phonetics on the pronunciation of Libyan EFL university students. This is achieved by testing the students’ preferences, expectations and attitudes towards learning and teaching of phonetics.  The participants of this study are 30 students graduated from the Department of English in the Faculty of Languages at the University of Tripoli. This survey employs a questionnaire consisting of 9 various themes covered in the phonetics courses during four semesters and a close-ended questionnaire consisting of 20 statements to test the students’ perspectives of English phonetics. The results indicate that aspects related to segments are highly favored by the participants than suprasegmental-related aspects.  In addition, the survey reveals that the participants have a positive attitude towards learning phonetics and that it did help them improve their English pronunciation. Finally, students have expectations about the teaching and learning of phonetics, such as lecturers should implement more methods and activities during lectures, provide more practice to students, and integrate technology to the teaching and the learning of phonetics