ITTT Glossary – 3×3 Drilling

When learning the English language students are regularly confronted by vocabulary that is new and unfamiliar to them. In order to learn how to pronounce these words correctly the students needs to hear them modeled correctly by the teacher.

3×3 or choral drilling is a technique that is often used to aid students in learning correct pronunciation. The 3×3 technique involves the teacher clearly enunciating the new word to the class who then repeat the word back as a group. The process is then repeated twice more.

After the choral drilling the teacher then indicates an individual student to repeat the word to the rest of the class. This process is again repeated twice more with different students.

In addition to teaching the pronunciation of new words, 3×3 drilling can also be used to help students overcome common pronunciation difficulties caused by specific English letters and sounds that are not used in their own language.