My latest favourite trick is lots of rhythm work. By this I mean clapping, tapping, clicking, walking - anything to get the rhythm of English. Limericks, Jazz Chants and Rhymes and Rhythm A poem based course for English pronunciation are my most used tools.
Initially a lot of work is done on word and sentences stress so the concept of stressed syllables and words is understood ( and practised) Rhythm work can be the 'fun' part of pronunciation although some students are a little embarrassed about it.
I do like to start the idea of rhythm in English by the borrowed story of 4 conductors all tapping out a beat with their bat
Conductor one
one two three four
Conductor 2
one and two and three and four and
Conductor 3
one and a two and a three and a four and a
Conductor 4
one and then a two and then a three and then a four and then a
This little story easily shows the idea of patterns of stress and 'unstress' and how all the 'little' words need to fit into the rhythm. I have found this to be particularly useful for french speakers who seem to have difficulty losing the classic 'French' accent. It is also very useful for many of the South East Asian languages to get over the 'staccato' and jumpy nature of their English. it is also good for those coming from India whose English is almost their first language but the rhythm of their speech makes it hard to understand sometimes.
Initially a lot of work is done on word and sentences stress so the concept of stressed syllables and words is understood ( and practised) Rhythm work can be the 'fun' part of pronunciation although some students are a little embarrassed about it.
I do like to start the idea of rhythm in English by the borrowed story of 4 conductors all tapping out a beat with their bat
Conductor one
one two three four
Conductor 2
one and two and three and four and
Conductor 3
one and a two and a three and a four and a
Conductor 4
one and then a two and then a three and then a four and then a
This little story easily shows the idea of patterns of stress and 'unstress' and how all the 'little' words need to fit into the rhythm. I have found this to be particularly useful for french speakers who seem to have difficulty losing the classic 'French' accent. It is also very useful for many of the South East Asian languages to get over the 'staccato' and jumpy nature of their English. it is also good for those coming from India whose English is almost their first language but the rhythm of their speech makes it hard to understand sometimes.
