[ Contents | Search | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Tatyana Exum
Date: 04 May 2010
Time: 20:23:07 -0500
Remote Name: 76.106.165.197
I wish I could use the speech specialist terminology to be absolutely accurate :-) 1)Following along with the prerecoded examples of the sounds-words-phrases-monologues-dialogues (sound production-intonation-volume-pause control)(O'Connor) Automatization in gradual complexity. 2)Recording of the sound production with the instructor's analysis and the following correction (special attention was given to English explosive consinants, nasals, diphthongs, triphthongs, and weak/strong syllabic structures). It helped to realize my own sound production strengths/weaknesses in both languages (English and Russian). 3. Sound production (tongue/lip position exercises in front of the mirror, especially for short-long vowel differentiation, ng, w - all the sounds which are different from my native (Russian) language. Special note: Our instructor was totally correct stating that if by the end of the exercises our vocal speech organs were not totally exhausted, we did not do it correctly ( English in comparison with Russian/Ukrainian requires much more active muscle involvement in a sound production). 4. A lot of tongue twister(graded). Helped with sound formation in combination with the rate. 5. Jazz Chants (graded). Sound formation and intonation (no blocks noticed). 6. Transcribing of the recorded samples. Understanding of the sounds helped to correctly connect oral samples with graphic images. 7. Various breathing exercises - for example, "blowing the candle" for a correct pronunciation of explosive consonants and w. 8. Parsing sentences. Of course, the course involved much more, but I tried to mention the major ones. Thank you again for your question. Thank you aga