Job Discussion Forums

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

I've been stewing over teaching english as a foreign language for a few years now. One of the main stumbling blocks is the fact that i have a bit of trouble with the sound /r/ in words.
I'm a native speaker and Scottish so i should be crushing trilling my r's but alas no.

I've travelled loads and been pretty easily understood by a wide range of people and can make a good imitation of it (imo) at the beginning of words but i think i brutalise the r sound in the middle of words, like in barrell, quarrel, everything (grrrr!!). This isn't going to be changing in my lifetime either.

Would this have an impact on my ability to pass a Tesol cert or get a job in your opinions? Anyone with similiar or seen people with similiar difficulties teaching? How would i teach pronunciation of one of the most common sounds in the english language if i wasn't able to make the correct pronunciation of it myself?

I'm probably blowing it out of proportion but it definitely plays on my mind in regards to doing a course. Thanks.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I was reading an advert over the weekend for a course provider in my UK hometown, and they have an open day for prospective trainees to attend a class, meet the staff and ask questions ... I went to a day like this myself before I did my course. It might be worth seeing if anyone local to you does the same thing, and actually talking to them about it. That way you can get a genuine opinion from someone who can hear you speak, and who could actually be one of your teacher trainers.

I would say, no ... it wouldnt make a difference ... but thats only my gut feeling really. There are plenty of different sounds in the English language, and plenty of different accents too ... I dont think it will affect you really. Is it an actual impediment? Or just habit??

Speaking to a training provider would be the best option though IMO

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

Wow. Quick reply thanks.

It's a bit of both really. I can make a perfect r at the beginning of words if i really think about it but it'd be impossible to make a perfect one stuck in the middle of something.

I've actually done about 6 weeks of a part-time Trinity cert at my local college in the past (actually dropped out, i was passing it at the time but just never believed i could actualy teach and confidence issues).

I spoke to the lecturer about it a few times. It's probably not as bad as i perceive it to be. Just the fact of getting bullied a few times for it when i was a young pup has put me on ultrasensitive in regards to it.

Meh!!! I'm wanting someone to say no, i can't do that. I didn't expect to get so emo so fast when i hit post thread lol.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I agree with the earlier poster that you should check with some course provider, and ask openly if this is a real problem.

I can say that we have not accepted for training some would-be teachers whose accents were far out of the standard range (New Orleans, notably:)), but that is something that a course provider should be able to tell you right up front, after a short interview.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Yeah, I spend too much time on this forum!

If you have already enrolled on and completed some of the course without the tutors making a big issue of it, then it probably isnt a problem? Sounds like its confidence that is the real issue ... and Im not sure what the answer to that is. Maybe its time to speak to that course provider again.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I have a slight tendancy to say 'f' instead of 'th'. Never noticed it before and no one had ever said anything, but then i moved to Spain and was told by a girl i was dating about it. Regardless, it didn't stop me getting a job.

Obviously i'm trying to change it and make sure my pronunciation gets better, and i'm especially careful when in class to use the correct sound. It might just be something to work on but it shouldn't stop you.

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:42 am Post subject:

Sorry, I didn't read all the other reply's so I may be repeating something

I am in Japan and that WOULD be a problem here. One of the biggest problems our students have is differentiating between "R" and "L". So we are constantly practicing the difference between the two letters and work on words with those letters. I don't know how large of a problem it would be, but I do know my school wouldn't accept an applicant with that problem. I fyou are good at masking it, do it!

Sorry to be the discouraging one, but i think eliminating places that won't work would be helpful also!

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

I'm curious. You are obviously concerned about your speech difficulty, but you don't mention if you have taken steps to correct it. Is it possible that a speech therapist might be able to give you some help? Sometimes speech problems can be corrected if the speaker can learn what he/she IS doing and what he/she SHOULD be doing instead. Years ago I had to work with a speech therapist on my 's' sounds. It took lots of practice and I still sometimes make sloppy sounds, but knowing the correct placement for tongue and lips can make a real difference.

I always tell my students to put their teeth on their lower lips for 'f' and and 'v'. Sometimes people just plain CAN'T hear and say. They need more. Maybe it could help you too.

.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

It would be pretty daunting EcC but i think i could manage it if i had confidence in my training.

It was more like i thought, "i'm not smart enough for this and i'm never going to finish it anyway so why drag it out" and when i started thinking that, well the game was over. I was doing fine and passing too that's what's so annoying in hindsight. I'm my own worst enemy most of the time. I regret it now as i'd doubt that part time course would be an option for me if i wanted to give it a second try. It'd have to be a one month intensive bad boy with the expenses and stresses that come along with that.

I'm still on the fence whether to give it another shot. I've been thinking of doing this on a regular basis since 2002 and did an introduction course in Tesol at that time. Then the Trinity cert. in 2004.

I am pretty fearful that i would just burn �2000 trying again though. The internet has ruined my english i swear to god, this is the most punctuation and least amount of smilies i've put in a post for a year probably Smile

(meh! one won't do any harm).

Ariadne, i've been to a speech therapist some years back to try to work it out but came to the conclusion that i'm actually cool with it. It's part of me and all that yadda yadda, and it'd be pretty hard (or seemed to be) to overcome it and wasn't worth it. It has zero impact on my life apart from me knowing it's there and now and again getting pissed at the fact occasionally.