As foreign language teachers, we understand that mastering the art of speaking and pronouncing words clearly can be one of the most challenging skills for our students. Some may battle shyness, while others live with the fear of making mistakes or find themselves overshadowed by more vocal classmates.
This challenge becomes even more pronounced when teaching larger groups or when having limited classroom time, perhaps just two 45-minute lessons with a group. +The reality is that classroom speaking practice alone may not suffice, especially when students are taking language lessons in their home country.
That’s why we’re here to introduce you to three effective strategies aimed at helping your students engage with English outside the confines of our lessons. Trust us, the more they converse, the more their language proficiency will soar, and the higher they’ll regard you as their teacher.
Strategy 1: Pronunciation Immersion with TV and Movies
Incorporate the captivating world of films and TV series to help your students embrace different accents and slangs. This strategy not only makes learning enjoyable but also offers an engaging context for language practice. Here’s how it works:
Content Selection:
Encourage your students to pick a movie or TV series that aligns with their interests and features the accent or slang they want to focus on.
Focused Listening:
Instruct them to watch the selected content with keen attention to spoken sentences, phrases, or expressions in the desired accent or slang.
Pause and Repeat:
Advise them to pause the video whenever they encounter a challenging or intriguing sentence. In the paused state, students can replay the segment multiple times to grasp the pronunciation, intonation, and nuances.Repeat Aloud: After analyzing the dialogue, have your students practice by repeating the sentence or phrase aloud, imitating the accent, pronunciation, and intonation.
Variations:
Suggest different approaches, such as watching with and without subtitles, attempting to mimic the accent without pausing, or trying to adopt a character’s speech style for the day.
By implementing this strategy, you empower your students to transform their leisure time into a powerful language-learning opportunity. They’ll not only improve their speaking skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for the richness of English accents and slangs, all while enjoying their favorite shows and movies.
Strategy 2: Leveraging ELSA – The English Language Speech Assistant
If you’re looking for a home-based solution to help your students practice sentence pronunciation and engage in conversations with instant personalized feedback, ELSA Speak could be an excellent recommendation. ELSA is a simple and user-friendly app that offers students lessons on various topics to help them improve their English speaking skills.
The main features are:
Real-Time Speech Recognition Feedback:
ELSA offers real-time speech recognition feedback. It evaluates their spoken English instantly and provides detailed feedback, enabling immediate corrections and accelerated learning.
Personalized Learning:
ELSA’s strength lies in its personalized approach. It tailors lessons and exercises to each student’s unique progress and requirements. This ensures that every student receives a customized curriculum that addresses their specific areas for improvement.
Accessibility and Convenience:
ELSA is accessible anytime and anywhere, making it a flexible tool for students to practice speaking skills on their own schedules. This accessibility is especially valuable for students with busy lives or those who may be hesitant to practice in group settings.
They offer several bundles with varying features. We suggest advising your students to consider purchasing either the Pro or Premium versions for a minimum duration of 3 or 12 months. This way, they can begin to notice improvements in their English speaking skills.
You can also explore the app for free for a 7-day trial and then share the link elsacorp.pxf.io/0ZRYdP with your students.
Strategy 3: The Recording Challenge
Another effective strategy to boost pronunciation and speaking skills outside of the classroom is the “Recording Challenge.” This approach encourages students to take an active role in their learning journey:
Weekly Topics:
Assign a new topic or theme to your students on a weekly basis. It could range from personal interests to current events.
Recording:
Instruct students to record themselves speaking about the assigned topic. They can use their smartphones or other recording devices for this purpose.
Self-Evaluation:
After recording, have them listen to their own speech critically.
Ask them to identify areas where they could improve, such as pronunciation, fluency, or vocabulary usage.
Repeat and Enhance:
Challenge them to re-record the same speech, incorporating the improvements they’ve identified. This process promotes active learning and self-correction.
Peer Interaction:
Encourage students to share their recordings with a peer or language exchange partner for feedback and suggestions.
Progress Tracking:
Suggest that students maintain a journal or document where they record their weekly recordings and self-assessments. This will allow them to observe their gradual improvement over time.
The Recording Challenge empowers students to be proactive in their language learning journey. It provides a structured yet flexible approach to practicing speaking skills and enhancing pronunciation. Through regular practice and self-reflection, students can become more confident and proficient speakers.
Get them talking!
So let´s get students talking! As foreign language teachers, we recognize the challenges students face in mastering speaking skills. By encouraging them to engage with the language beyond the classroom, we can help them improve their pronunciation, fluency, and overall confidence.
These efforts not only enhance their language proficiency but also deepen their appreciation for diverse accents and slangs, making us effective and valued educators.
Very good! Solid material.