Part 3: Pronouncing Names... How to Get it Right

Having tried out these resources, I found that while most of the names were generally accurate, there were instances where they fell short. Despite this, I still recommend utilizing these resources. However, I firmly believe that the most reliable and error-free approach is simply asking the student directly. I have no qualms about admitting when I don't know something, and I value the opportunity to learn from my students themselves. Their input is invaluable in ensuring the correct pronunciation of their names.

It is crucial to invest time in learning our students' names to demonstrate our care and commitment. By taking a student aside and asking for the correct pronunciation of their name, we send a powerful message about their significance to us. While it may require multiple attempts to get it right, the effort is worthwhile. In the beginning of the year I make sure we share our names over and over again. I do an activity where we break our names up into syllables and go over how to phonetically say each name. By the end of the first week, we all know each others names. It is important I invest my time doing this because I am modeling to the students how important it is to make sure you are pronouncing someones name correctly.

Aside from the obvious reasons, I have extreme anxiety about the first day of school and pronouncing new names! I always try to talk to the previous year's teacher. If they are new to the school I have googled the pronunciation of "name" and heard some attempts- so I at least have a starting point. I didn't know these different websites existed. 
Unfortunately, inogolo didn't have many of my students' names in it- and the ones they did have were not correct- ie. Maurice was pronounced Morris.
You are able to email in suggestions!
Howtopronounce wasn't much more successful for me. They do allow you to rate the pronunciation. 
The pronunciation of Thushaniga was not on any of the websites. 
I think my best plan of action moving forward would be to ask the student - not a big public display or sideshow and learn from the student. He or she should get to decide what I call them! 

We can take the time to learn our students’ names and show them that we care. Taking a student aside and asking them how to pronounce their names correctly shows them how important they are to you. It may take several instances, but it’s important. I personally write names phonetically And repeatedly say their names to them during lessons. I like the Podcasters mentioning that when teachers use students’ names correctly, then their peers in class will begin to use the correct pronunciation’s as well. 

These resources are so informative and something for sure that I will be passing along to our ELL team at our school. Even for my own knowledge and understanding of names, this is a resource that can be so valuable in making you be a champion for another student, who may have never had one before when it came to their name and their origin. 

Several of my student names were available (Phu).  Some were not available (Huthaifa) and honestly I am not 100% confident in my pronunciation so I would not add that one to the database. 

After trying these resources most of the names were close but not always right. I would recommend them. But I will always go to the 100% error-free resource of asking the student. I am not afraid to show that I do not know. 

These resources were helpful to help me to mimic the sounds that I cannot produce. I hope to use these resources in the future as my specific student set often has names that I have not said before or have said incorrectly in the past. 

1. What do you Think??  EXPLORE these resources:  
1. https://inogolo.com/
2. https://www.thenameengine.com/ (famous names)
3. https://www.howtopronounce.com/  ;

Inogolo was the least successful site for me. I tested it with many middle eastern names and the only ones that came up were ones related to well known people like Barak Obama or Hakeem Jeffries. I tested it with Chiara, because I have had students with that same spelling pronounce it "Kee-Ah-Ruh" and "Shy-Ah-Ruh" and Inogolo came back empty handed. 

The Name Engine was fun, especially for last names, but unless your student shares a name with a celebrity or notable figure it's not the best.

How To Pronounce was the most thorough. All the names I failed to find on the other sites were there and it offered multiple pronunciations based on different languages. In the end I would definitely defer to the student first and work with them, since there are always variations. BUT How To Pronounce would be a great place to reinforce what my student has initially taught me privately without continuing to bug them.

1. Now What??  PRACTICE: Try to search for student names that are currently in your class.  After several attempts, what is the success rate?  Can you add to the databases?  Would you recommend any of these or other similar resources?

I searched for 4 specific names: Astria (student pronounces it uh-stray-uh), Sajad, Zehra, and Suraj. I could not find the correct Astria, but to be honest this is the student's new name versus a "dead name" and I am pretty sure they made up their own pronunciation. I could add this new pronunciation to the site and see how it rates. The example for Sajad was different than what I have said for sure, but there was only one example. Zehra has many examples that definitely helped me to say it more accurately. Suraj  two competing pronunciations, so again, I would always defer to the student. I would recommend this site as a resource to test out names at the beginning of the year when your looking through rosters, so you can make a faithful attempt before calling roll the first day.

In using the databases I had the best luck with Ingolo and howtopronounce.com in finding some of my student's names. However, it was pretty limited in the names that were on there. Most common Arabic names were listed but I did notice some mispronunciations in some of my other students names (especially in Spanish where the "J/G" is really pronounced with a "H" sound. I definitely think these databases are a great starting point for accessing students names/getting a "close" pronunciation. However, I think it's still so important to form the relationship with the kids and make sure to hear them pronounce it as many times as it takes until it is pronounced correctly.