Never learned phonics
Hello!
I am apart of the generation that never learned phonics, I was taught to memorize my words and eventually became well read and read 60+ books a year. I have zero problems understanding literature and analyzing text, and words that I cannot pronounce, I can understand the meaning behind them through context clues, etc. I KNOW HOW TO READ! (Kinda… lmao see later)
My problem is PRONUNCIATION!!! I don’t read aloud a lot, and recently I just started reading a book to myself and realized, holy shit, I can’t pronounce these words and I also don’t know how to. I am missing the phonetic knowledge to properly sound words out. For example, here are some words I know how to say from memorizing but I would pronounce like this prior to hearing it correctly:
hyperbole → “hyper-bowl” instead of “hy-PER-buh-lee”
epitome → “epi-tome” instead of “eh-PIT-uh-mee”
segue → “seg” instead of “SEG-way”
facade → “fuh-kade” instead of “fuh-SAHD”
I could not tell you why those words are pronounced that way.
I’m not sure how I made it as long as I did without realizing I don’t think I know how to actually read. I’m freaking out at this realization and would appreciate any advice on how to learn phonics as an adult or if anyone relates or you yourself taught the generation that missed phonics. And yes, I’ve listened to Sold a Story- great pod.
Also- I did have a pretty severe speech impediment and received services from k-5 (I don’t have a speech impediment now- it only slips out sometimes if I’m speaking very fast) and I went to a small private school that definitely focused more on religion than education. IDK if that matters.
Spark notes version: Never learned phonics, realized I don’t know how to pronounce words properly unless I hear them correctly first. Looking for advice on how to teach myself phonics / if anyone else relates or if I somehow made it through life without basic knowledge.