ronunciation can affect aspects to it, physically
how we communicate. Many producing it and the sound that
people, who have had a go is produced from it, the hearing
at learning a foreign language, of the sound. As we get older the
have experienced that sinking ability to do both of these, i.e.
feeling when they try a physically work out how to make
well-constructed sentence in the sound and recognise it, can
another language only to be met diminish. This doesn’t mean we
with a blank face. can’t continue to learn new
languages but we need some extra
Why is this? tricks to help us.
Languages are built on sounds. If Let’s look at some ideas on what
I speak English and live in an we can do when we learn a new
English-speaking country I expect language.
a speaker to say sounds in a
particular way. In French or How am I saying it?
Spanish I would expect to hear
different sounds. When we can’t Try saying the letters. Notice
recognise the sound we try and how your mouth is working. If you
adjust how we are listening, a don’t know how a sound is
bit like tuning a radio, but if physically made you may find it
we can’t guess the sound, the harder to say it.
chances are we won’t understand
what is being said. What sounds are the same?
The Blocks of English has many more sounds than
Pronunciation other languages but it also has a
lot of sounds in common with
Pronunciation has two main other languages. Good
dictionaries in a new language One you get to say the letters
will usually offer an English and words. Secondly you get to
sound or word to compare with. practise sounds that you expect
Use it to check what sounds are to hear and you become accustomed
similar. to the sounds of the language.
Which sounds are hard to How good do I need to be?
say?
There is much discussion on this.
Go through the alphabet of the For many of us the ability to get
new language and mark out the by in other languages is good
ones you find hard to say. Give enough. If we can say what we
them some attention. Try and want, simply, slowly and the
physically make the sound and see person we are speaking to, can
how your mouth works. Say the understand us, then our
alphabet. Look at how children pronunciation is probably good
use the alphabet song in English enough. After that it is a
to help them remember the matter of choice. Some people
alphabet, doing the same in a new become very good at other
language will also help memorise languages and get to very good
the letters and sounds. levels of pronunciation. Not many
of us are such gifted linguists
Read out loud. but there’s no reason why we
can’t make the words so that
Find some reading form your people can understand us.
course book or any other book.
There are two advantages here.
About the Author:
Ken O’Brien has over 10 years experience in English language teaching and vocational training. Educated Links(http://www.educatedlinks.com) provides articles and other resources based around a range of education and training topics.
Read more articles by:
Ken O'Brien
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
