The problem of pronouncing the English th sounds /θ/ and /ð/ of Vietnamese learners

This article investigates the problem that EFL learners in Vietnam commonly come across issues when pronouncing the th sounds /θ/ and /ð/ in English. It is reported that they frequently substitutes /th/ for the voiceless sound /θ/ and /ɗ/ for the voiced sound /ð/. The analysis indicates that the influence of first language (L1), the struggle in using tongue and teeth, and the proficiency level of Vietnamese learners of English are considered as the main factors causing the abovementioned problematic pronunciation. To help students overcome their difficulties, comprehensively instructing the way to pronounce /θ/ and /ð/ sounds correctly, using minimal pairs with numerous examples, and creating a inspired learning environment for the students to practice pronunciation are recommended. Keywords: pronunciation, pronouncing, th sounds, /θ/, /ð/, difficulties, error