Pronsig

🎙️ New episode alert: IATEFL PronSIG Podcast – Episode 5 is out now!

In this powerful new PronSIG podcast episode, Mike Budden has an inspiring conversation with Heather Hansen, well known for challenging accent bias, questioning native-speaker norms, and advocating for greater respect for accent diversity in English.
Heather’s ideas have already sparked important conversations through her TED Talk, “How to speak bad English perfectly”, and in this episode she takes the discussion even further.
She explores the complex reality of pronunciation teaching, intelligibility, identity, privilege, and what it really means to support learners in a world where accent bias still exists.

🎧 Why should you listen? Here are 3 big reasons:
1. this episode will challenge assumptions, deepen your thinking, and help you reflect on the choices we make as teachers, trainers, and language professionals.
2. Iit is the kind of conversation that can shift perspectives and open up richer, more informed discussions about ELT pronunciation, learner identity, and real-world communication.
3. it reflects on how to help learners be understood, respected, and empowered

A huge thank you to Heather Hansen .hansen for such a thoughtful, honest, and compelling conversation.

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform, save this post for later, and share it with colleagues who care about pronunciation, equity, and English language teaching.

Is your best teaching idea still sitting in your files? 📂

PronSIG’s 2027 Materials & Activities Award invites teachers to share pronunciation activities that inspire learners across ages.

Your classroom idea could reach teachers worldwide. 🌍

📅 Deadline: 17 June 2026
🔗 Learn more: pronsig.iatefl.org/award2027/

The conversation doesn’t end here. 💭 Thank you for joining us as we explored pronunciation, nativeness, identity, and intelligibility with Rias van den Doel.

Swipe through → revisit key reflections and moments from the webinar. 🎙️

What if the next big insight in pronunciation teaching starts in your classroom? 💭🎙️

The 2027 IATEFL PronSIG Action Research Scholarship is now open — supporting teachers to turn classroom curiosity into meaningful research.

📅 Deadline: 17 June 2026
Check out the details here 👇
pronsig.iatefl.org/scholarship2027

🗣️ Should pronunciation teaching still revolve around native-speaker models? Or is it time to rethink what “good pronunciation” really means?

Join us for a FREE webinar with Rias van den Doel as we explore identity, intelligibility, and the ongoing debate around nativeness in pronunciation teaching.

🌍 Open to teachers, researchers, and pronunciation enthusiasts worldwide.

📅 Date: 23 May 2026
🔗 Register: pronsig.iatefl.org/debating-nativeness/

Still thinking about IATEFL? So are we.

From inspiring talks and spontaneous conversations to laughter, networking, and unforgettable pronunciation chats
IATEFL reminded us that professional development is also about COMMUNITY.

At PronSIG we believe pronunciation teaching is more than sounds and symbols.

It’s identity, connection, communication, and belonging

These moments captured the energy of teachers, researchers, linguists, and pronunciation enthusiasts coming together to learn from each other and grow together.

And honestly?
The conversation doesn’t end when the conference does

If pronunciation fascinates you…If you love discussing accents, intelligibility, speaking, identity, and ELT…If you want to connect with passionate educators from around the world…

✨ PronSIG is your people. ✨

💬 Join a global community of pronunciation enthusiasts
Access webinars, discussions, events, and professional learning opportunities

Ready to be part of the conversation?
Join PronSIG ! link : https://pronsig.iatefl.org/join/

Tag someone who should join our community

Is “native-like pronunciation” still the goal in English language teaching?
Or is it time to rethink what we really mean by intelligibility, identity, and successful communication?

Join PronSIG’s FREE webinar:
Debating nativeness as a construct in pronunciation teaching webinar by Rias van den Doel

This thought-provoking session explores one of the most discussed topics in ELT and pronunciation teaching today:

- nativeness
- accents in English
- pronunciation models
- identity and ownership of English
- what teachers should prioritise in the classroom

Whether you’re a pronunciation enthusiast, teacher trainer, linguist, researcher, or English teacher passionate about spoken communication, this webinar will challenge assumptions and spark meaningful discussion.

📍FREE registration
🗓️ 23 May 2026
🕰️ 12 pm UK time
🔗 Link https://www.iatefl.org/event-details/ #/?id=824
Share it with colleagues interested in pronunciation and applied linguistics!

Tell us in the comments
Do you think “native-like pronunciation” should still be the target in ELT?