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dudeabides · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 21

I want to do some classes where I teach students to distinguish between different accents. ie; American, British, Australian.

Anyone know of a website(s) where i can down some audio files of different examples? Like a soundboard or similar.

I know I could use films or tv shows, but I'm certain that someone out there can offer up a great site.

TIA!

saint57 · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject:

What level is your class? Unless they're older and really advanced, I'd say chaos is the most likely result.

Pollux · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: PL

You can start at 'Routes of English' from the BBC.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

What is the purpose of the course? To be able to say, "Hey that sounds like a Midwest American voice to me!"

Or to know the differences in various grammar?

Or to just get listening practice on various nationalities and dialects?

If it's the first one, I'd (humorously) suggest contacting the CIA for help.

If it's either of the other two, there's tons out there if you do a search on the Net.

dudeabides · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 21

I'm sorry, but I definitely think it's important for any high level student to be able to ditinguish between native English accents (American vs Australian, etc). Especially those students who deal with native speakers on a daily basis and in their business travels.

Understanding accents (also dialects and colloquialisms too) is a great way to break down barriers and build rapport with clients. It's a natural step for these students.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

http://hctv.humnet.ucla.edu/departments/linguistics/VowelsandConsonants/index/language.html

Scroll down and click on the two variaties of English given. It'd be a start.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Try this one
http://classweb.gmu.edu/accent/

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

dudeabides · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 21

Thanks Will.

Exactly what I was after. It went over quite well with the students.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

glad you all like it ...i

t came from one of us (on Dave's ) about a year ago
There are more like it in the thread. So have a search.....on this forum or the teacher training one.. or the APP ling.

This one is good too.

http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/dialects/

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I'm not quite sure why some folks are beating up on the OP. Personally, I think it sounds like the basis for an interesting one-off class; I'm sure my more advanced students would enjoy hearing the different pronunciations and trying to pick out the differences.

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

Yo, I sometimes do put accent in my class. most of my tapes in class have got different accents in them and they are sometimes cofusing for the students. One tape went "I have to pay the bills" in an Australian accent and my students kept thinking he was talking about "pie". Shocked

At first I didn't understand why they were writing about pie but when I realized i said that they didn't understand the accent. I put a sentence on the board and kept repeating in differemt accents (My trainer said this is a bad thing to do). So i think that the software will has given is good to stop us mangling accents and give the students an interesting lesson. I agree with ls60 and thnaks Will. fr the software.

PS Glenski and Canuck sometimes get sarcastic about things. Just their way, pay no attention. Cool