What are the difficulties of the Vietnamese students in learning English vowels?

Difficulties Faced by Vietnamese Students in Mastering English Vowels

For Vietnamese students, mastering English vowels poses significant challenges, particularly in distinguishing between /e/ and /ɛ/ sounds. These phonemes, as heard in “bed” and “bad,” carry crucial phonetic differences that prove demanding to Vietnamese learners.

Vietnamese lacks the distinction between /e/ and /ɛ/, making it difficult for students to perceive and produce the subtle differences between these sounds. The /ɛ/ sound in English requires a lower tongue position compared to /e/, a difference that Vietnamese students often fail to articulate correctly.

The challenge extends to other English vowels as well. Vietnamese has only 11 vowels, compared to 20 in English. This disparity creates confusion for learners, who may struggle to identify and pronounce unfamiliar English vowels. For instance, the English vowel /ɔ/ in “pot” is often substituted with the Vietnamese vowel /o/, leading to pronunciation errors.

Furthermore, the English vowel system emphasizes diphthongs, vowel combinations that shift in sound. Vietnamese lacks diphthongs, making it another area of difficulty for learners. The diphthong /aʊ/ in “house,” for example, requires Vietnamese students to master the subtle transition from /a/ to /ʊ/.

To overcome these challenges, Vietnamese students require dedicated practice and exposure to English vowels. Extensive listening exercises can help develop their phonetic awareness, while repeated pronunciation drills reinforce the correct production of vowels. English immersion through movies, television shows, and conversations with native speakers can further enhance their proficiency.

By addressing these difficulties and providing targeted instruction, educators can equip Vietnamese students with the necessary skills to master English vowels, enabling them to communicate effectively and confidently in the global language.