Can you practice Pronunciation by Listening to
This Story?
"I
rub you!" (should be "I love you!") was the pronunciation story I heard
before I came to teach
English in Japan. Mispronouncing words
can be frustrating and embarrasing for all of us.
How can you practice
your pronunciation by listening to stories?
Actually, there are several ways.
One
Just
listening can help you accustom your ear to the sounds of English.
Then, as you speak, listen to your own English and check for
funny sounds, or trouble spots. Those are the spots you can
practice to improve.
Two
Listen
to the story. Then, read the story, and listen to yourself
say
it. As above in number one, you can compare your version to
the
recorded version. Even better, record yourself saying the
story.
Listen to that, and look for things to improve.
Coach
yourself.
Three
After
you listen to the story many times, download a free audio recorder for
your computer (like Audacity), and then do use it to record yourself
reading the text out loud. Then play it back at the same time
as
you play the recording on this site. Listen for big
differences.
Also, this will force you to read at my speed; that is excellent practice.
I
used to tell my students that they did not need to practice
pronunciation if they could use English patterns similar to native
speakers. Now, I have changed and give a little help in this
area. There are a few reasons: it may be easier to improve
pronunciation than to learn the many English speaking patterns (for
instance, many Japanese use the exression to leave much more than a
native English speaker would... this is difficult to correct), it
improves students' confidence, and there are a few times when it can be
important. Also, it may increase your audience's respect for
you
if you speak without a strong accent.
Sitting Pretty
Idioms list
1. Be sitting pretty: to be in a
fortunate or favorable situation.
2. Be in a cold sweat: to be in a
constant state of fear or anxiety
3. In the nick of time: at the
last possible moment, just before it is too late
4. Laugh one's head off: to laugh
loudly or heartily
5. Take the mickey out of: to
make fun of someone, to tease someone to ridicule someone
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