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...  Read More »

... 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.

Pronouncing 'L' and 'R'

Why Practice Pronunciation?

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
Sitting Pretty
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Read the story here: »


Jim is sitting pretty tonight, as he sits in to dinner. Last night he was in a cold sweat because he was not ready for his mathematics test. His friend told him to study the wrong parts of the textbook. Jim discovered the mistake last night at 11:00 pm. It was just in the nick of time, and Jim studied until early this morning. His friend didn't make the same discovery, and now Jim took the mickey out of him for such a stupid mistake. He laughed his head off at his friend because he got all the page numbers backwards writing them down while thinking about his girlfriend. In the end they both did well on the test though.


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Pronouncing 'L' and 'R'

A short note for pronouncing 'L' and 'R'.  I feel the 'R' sound is actually two sounds... r at the beginning of a word (before a vowel) and in the middle or at the end of a word (after a vowel).

The 'R' sound before a vowel is made by forming the lips into a tight 'O' shape.  This is most important.  The lips shape controls the sound most.

the 'R' nd after a vowel is a bit more difficult.  I use the sequence of sounds 'M', 'N', 'L', 'R'.  Try making these sounds, and then try with instruction from a native speaker.  Compare your results.  

Watch this video of the mouth to see the shape of the mouth and hear the sounds for better practice.




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