Korean Job Discussion Forums

thaitom · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Phopphra, Thailand

I pronounce the word water with a T sound, wa/ter. The majority of my students pronounce it with a D sound something like this, wader. Anyway my boss lectured me today over this and told me to stop pronouncing it this way for I am confusing them from what their Korean teacher taught them. They also say liddle verses little.

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:25 am Post subject:

American and Canadian pronunciation.

People back home mock anyone who tries to say the 't' in water.

You must be British.

FACT: Koreans want to learn American pronunciation. I have yet to meet a single adult student to the contrary, and yet... most of my shipbuilding adult students converse with European foreigners at the local shipyards.

I personally teach both ways, then attach a percentage guestimate of relative use (eg., 80%, 20% with water,... 60/40 with often, etc). i think it's important to teach variety. tomato/tomato. give me/gimme, etc

Don't be draconian... teach it as variety, and use both yourself (in the classroom)! They wouldn't be confused if you validate their way, and just add yours.

Sing the tomato, tomato song!

You say either and I say eyether,
You say neither and I say nyther;
Either, eyether, neether, nyther,
Let's call the whole thing off!

You like potato and I like potaeto,
You like tomato and I like tomaeto;
Potato, potaeto, tomato, tomaeto!
Let's call the whole thing off!

Seriously.

thaitom · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Phopphra, Thailand

That's what I have been doing, but now I have been told to stop correcting their pronunciation. I guess I am making the Korean teachers look bad.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

I teach them both and emphasize on the the "d" sound for ''t" or double "t" between vowels. Because that's how I speak.

Are you from North America? Anyways, nothing wrong with the way you pronouce it. The majority (if not all) pronounce the "t" with a "d" When it's between vowels because the vowels are voiced and influenc the "t", which is voiceless, to become voiced. It's faster speaking.

I'd just tell them that you can pronouce it either way. They get it after awhile.

doublejeopardy · Joined: 16 Jan 2006

I wouldn't correct their pronunciation-it is a perfectly valid pronunciation of the word, I would hazard to say the predominate north american pronunciation.

However, neither should you have to change your pronunciation, which you've used all your life, as it is also a perfectly valid pronunciation of the word.

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

Van Islander,Im confused, are you attaching a percentage 'guestimate of use' in favour of American English????

If so youre saying that more people speak American English than British English???

visitor q · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:45 am Post subject:

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Either "wah-der" or "wah-ter" is fine. Don't correct them, but also don't change your own pronunciation. However, do let them know that the percentage of people saying "zed" versus "zee" is much higher. It's amazing how many students and Korean teachers think that "zed" is actually incorrect, especially when they phonetically say it "jet-tuh" in their own language, which is pretty close to one of the targets anyway. Please, don't tell them that it's okay to pronounce "poh-tay-toh" as "poh-tah-toh" as that would be horrific. Anyway, neeeeeether you nor the students are wrong. Tell 'em, "I say 'Zed.' If you want to say 'Zee,' that's fine, too." Tell your boss that the students will not be confused if the concepts are explained in a simple way and that the students will actually benefit greatly from being able to recognize the English of all the world's speakers rather than just the (North) American version. Wink

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Just don't tell them it's wrong to pronounce "water" /wader/. That's all.

It's tea time. tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. Finished my tea. Now it's time for some wattttttttttttttttttttttter.

Whatever.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

As long as you don't pronouce "kick" "keeeeeeeeek".

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:20 am Post subject:

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I think that you have to figure out where your students are planning to use their English language skills. If they're planning on studying abroad, find out WHERE!! About 90% of my students will be studying in the States or Canada. I fill them in on the different forms of pronunciation they may hear there (Southern-American, West Coast, Mid-west). I also bring up British English grammar when appropriate, as I'm from the States. Our students are lucky in that we have teachers from England, Ireland, New Zealand, Austrailia, Canada and different parts of the States, so they can get used to hearing different accents.

Of course, when teaching kids in a hagwon, you'll have no idea where they may end up in the future. It's good to point out differences in pronunciation, but don't correct things if they're acceptable pronunciation in other countires.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Either way is better than "warter".