English pronunciation in the oratory of José Martí

Abstract

Martí believed that a true orator was one who responded to society. He considered the pronunciation of his speeches in English to be the decisive factor and the central determinant of the speech's effectiveness, since proper pronunciation also allowed the speaker to project themselves, ensuring identity and coherence between what was expressed and what they thought and felt. Therefore, the objective of this article is to explain the work with pronunciation in English, focusing on the oral tradition of José Martí, for third-year students of the Foreign Languages (English) Syllabus in their Integrated English Language Practice lessons. This research implemented theoretical, empirical, and statistical-mathematical methods. The results of the instruments applied in the final phase demonstrate an improvement in pronunciation, resulting from the acquisition of the content for the proposed activities. The students showed independence when working individually and developed other linguistic skills. Martí's oratory made it possible to focus on the relevance of linguistic structures that lend persuasive force to the whole. The proposal links the act of teaching with that of learning, a learning process that takes place through active methods and the use of different techniques and approaches, such as activities in which the teacher and students participate to achieve a common goal.