Practice makes Perfect

How was your English pronunciation practice?  Did you try a lot?  Or, did you try only once or twice?  I want you to keep practicing it because "Practice makes Perfect."  You don't worry about our "Japanese accent" or that you cannot speak English like a native speaker because English is spoken by a lot of people from different countries.  The problem is that you keep your mouth shut because you are not confident enough.  Do you know "Practice also makes Confidence"?  The website and software introduced in this blog can be used by yourself, so even in the long holiday or after you graduate from high school, there is no problem.  Keep trying and never give up.  Your friends are waiting for you somewhere in the world.  

＜Coursebook> Recommendation for Uni Entrance Exam!

Academic Vocabulary in Use 

(McCarthy & O'Dell, 2008) 

Academic Vocabulary in Use (McCarthy & O'Dell, 2008) is designed for learners at intermediate level or higher, providing practical preparations for those who wish to study in higher education where English is the first language and for those who take IELTS. 

The principle idea of this book is “learning the practical use of academic English” on the basis of the communicative approach. Each unit introduces various knowledge of the target vocabulary: part of speech, usage, paraphrases, synonyms and antonyms, which is followed by different types of questions. This coursebook does not rely on “rote learning.” Instead, it provides learners with repeated encounters with the target vocabulary. Accompanied by the firm vocabulary knowledge, learners may promote their vocabulary learning and develop their own vocabulary learning skill, which may lead to autonomy. 

The hidden highlight of this textbook is its references. They are helpful both for teachers and learners since further information of vocabulary is provided in well-organized tables. The answer keys to the questions are also included but without any explanations. All the vocabulary is in the index accompanied with phonemic symbols and the page number. Instruction should be given if phonemic symbols are not familiar to learners. 

Though this coursebook may not have much visual appeal, the contents are quite reliable. Its academic vocabulary is selected from the Cambridge International Corpus. The used example texts are extracts from authentic lectures, presentations, essays, tables and graphs. While learning the academic vocabulary, learners automatically become familiarized with the academic context. 

In the end, it should be noted that this coursebook does not directly aim to improve any four skills. However, good knowledge of vocabulary will eventually turn present English learners into successful university students. For this realization, 31.95 AUD is not so expensive, probably.

<Website> Recommended!

BBC Learning English

Pronunciation Tips

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

“BBC Learning English” is designed for learning English as a foreign/additional language and contains a wide variety of material sources which are reliable and up to date. I would like the Japanese high school students to use “pronunciation tips” of this website in order to become familiar with phonetic alphabets and practice the segmental features of the English sound. 

As Japanese learners tend to depend on visual aids, the knowledge of phonetic alphabets can be helpful and will eventually help them develop their understanding of the suprasegmental of the spoken English. In “Pronunciation tips,” each sound and its phonetic symbol are introduced on a movie showing clear movements of the mouth. It has some small quizzes to match the pictures and the phonetic alphabets, avoiding the confusion of matching sounds and spelling. Unfortunately, this site may make students rather passive; therefore, I would like to use this site as a self-learning tool and integrate it with classroom activities, such as tests. 

Language Guide. Org English

http://www.languageguide.org/english/

“Language Guide. Org English” is a website which introduces vocabulary with its picture and its sound. If you point to a picture, you can hear how it is pronounced. You can call it a picture dictionary with sounds. The introduced vocabulary is all nouns related to everyday life; therefore, they are seemingly easy and possibly high frequency words, but there are actually many words unfamiliar to Japanese high school students. This website may help Japanese students increase high frequency vocabulary and become more familiar with foreign culture. The various topics, such as history, geography, science technology, may also attract students with different interest. 

The layout design is cute and friendly enough that young learners can easily make access to it. Some pictures even have tricks such as calls of animals. At home, students can practice pronunciation by themselves. At school, paired students can work together by one student testing the other’s pronunciation. 

Spoken Skills

http://www.spokenskills.com/student-activities.cfm

“Spoken Skills” has a wide range of pronunciation practice. It includes practice of segmental like “BBC Learning English,” but without phonetic alphabets. The intonation practice of this website can be the most helpful for Japanese high school students to learn that intonation make the meanings different. For example, there is a pair of spoken sounds of one sentence: one in a polite way and the other in a rude way. Learners can record their speaking and listen, too. This may encourage students to be familiarized with the authentic use of English. 

Even though this website has any interactive activities, it includes sound-discrimination quizzes. They can be rather listening skill quizzes but still fun. Of course, listening practice and speaking practice can give good influence on each other. In classrooms, students can take turns giving sound discrimination quizzes to others, which may prove their improved pronunciation and their understanding of the suprasegmental. 

English Pronunciation Practice 

for Japanese Learners

http://kccn.konan-u.ac.jp/ilc/english/index.html

“English Pronunciation Practice for Japanese Learners” is a website created by a Japanese university researcher in phonetics. As it focuses on providing essence of the phonological information for communication, the layout is very simple and the contents are limited but explicit. I introduce this website, even though it is in Japanese, because this good introduction of the suprasegmental may help Japanese high school students to understand the characteristics of the spoken English. Due to the prosodic function, such as linking, assimilation or elision, many students feel they cannot hear English well, frustrated. They need not understand it professionally or this knowledge does not directly lead to the pronunciation mastery, but this “explicit” explanation may help remove their frustration. Since this website effectively uses the sound, the sound wave, the sound table, colours and quizzes, students can develop their understanding. In classrooms, they can apply to the pronunciation practice with different sentences showing their feeling. 

<Software Package> Recommended!

Eye Speak

http://www.eyespeakenglish.com/#!index

“Eye Speak” is a software program with which students can practice English pronunciation. This software is incredibly beneficial for EFL/ESL learners because this software makes pronunciation practice very effective. Firstly, you hear the model speaking. Secondly, you speak the same sentence and record it. Thirdly, you receive feedback. The feedback is the best part of this software. The model speaking and your recorded speaking are digitalized and the data appear in a waveform. As a result, you can “see” the differences between the model speaking and your speaking.

The two data are also analysed in terms of pronunciation, pitch, timing, and loudness. The distinctively different parts are shown in segments respectively; therefore you can focus on practicing the parts repeatedly. Lastly, this software makes a portfolio for you and shows how you make progress.

This software has several positive aspects. The model speaking by a native English speaker can give learners good input. Learners can get enough feedback, possibly more than classroom teachers can do. They can speak English without hesitation if they work at home. The program promotes learner autonomy. As mentioned, this program’s feedback is excellent in its speed, quantity and quality. The guidance is clear enough for learners to practice independently. The contexts focus on the communicative approach; therefore, you can apply this practice in the real-world use and also you will become accustomed to listening to the English sentences. Strictly speaking, the contents of this software are far from interactive behaviour and do not include any productive or creative activities. Even though the sentences are not decontextualized, you may become bored from time to time. However, focus on the practice of pronunciation and gain confidence. In the classroom application, I would like students to test each other’s speaking. After enough practice, they can become good assessors too.

My dear students,

In Japanese high school, you rarely practice English pronunciation practice, do you? I am sorry about this situation. But I know you want to speak English, so I want to introduce some effective computer software and websites in this blog. Please practice English pronunciation on PC at home. No one will listen to you so you can practice with a loud voice! Looking forward to hearing your improved English pronunciation!

This Blog is made for MA in TESOL at University of Wollongong.