Backchaining, as a technique, primarily helps learners with which skill?

• A. Pronouncing difficult sound groups
• B. Reading comprehension
• C. Writing speed
• D. Listening for gist

Answer: (A)

Backchaining trains pronunciation by having learners practice the final portion of a phrase or sentence first, then add preceding chunks one by one. This approach focuses attention on producing difficult sound groups accurately, helping the mouth, tongue, and breath coordinate the sequence and improving rhythm and intonation in connected speech. Because its main aim is how speech sounds and flows, it directly supports pronunciation rather than reading comprehension, writing speed, or listening for gist.