Speaker
Description
Dividing syllable structure remains a major problem for Vietnamese EFL learners, primarily due to the structural differences between their mother tongue and English. While traditional resources provide basic phonetic transcriptions and meanings, they often lack detailed structural analysis. This project introduces SyllableLab, an automated CALL platform designed to provide a comprehensive solution for syllable study.
The tool follows key phonological rules, such as the maximal onset principle and phonotactic constraints, to ensure that all syllable divisions are accurate. Besides normal features of a dictionary like British and American transcriptions and meanings, SyllableLab automatically divides a word's syllable structure into three main components, including onset, nucleus, and coda. By presenting these three components through visual tree diagrams, the platform allows learners to analyze and distinguish between complex syllable structures in both British and American English. Furthermore, three games related to onset, nucleus and coda enable students to reinforce their understanding, leading to improvement in pronunciation accuracy.
The effectiveness of the platform was evaluated through a pilot study involving 40 EFL learners who engaged with fundamental phonological theory, visual tree diagrams, and interactive games in SyllableLab. The results indicate that this integrated approach significantly enhances learners' accuracy in syllable division and strengthens their phonological awareness. Ultimately, the author intends to contribute this platform to higher education institutions as a modern digital tool to support lecturers in their phonology lessons.
Biography
Tran Quoc Dat is currently a master’s student specializing in the Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching (TMELT) at the University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Da Nang. Having graduated with high honors in English Language in 2024, he has built a solid foundation in linguistics, which he actively applies to his professional practice. With over four years of experience as an English teacher, Dat has identified significant challenges faced by EFL students, particularly in mastering accurate pronunciation, sentence development, and speaking fluency.
Driven by a mission to bridge these pedagogical gaps, he has dedicated his research to creating scientific tools that offer practical solutions for the classroom. His most recent innovation, SyllableLab, is an automated web-based platform designed to enhance learners' phonological awareness through systematic syllable structure analysis. His immediate goal is to present this work at the VietTESOL 2026 International Convention and publish a scientific paper detailing the tool's effectiveness.
Ultimately, Dat aims to contribute his platform to higher education institutions as a modern digital resource to support lecturers and students in their phonology lessons. He hopes that VietTESOL 2026 will be a valuable opportunity to showcase the knowledge gained from his master's program and introduce a platform that helps learners overcome their pronunciation struggles, thereby improving their overall speaking competence.
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