Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jkelly80]

Sorry if this is off-topic, but I'm really stumped. I'm currently tutoring ESL here in the states (so this is not technically a korea question) with a low-level learner, and she's having a lot of trouble with � (cat), e (pet), and the short i (pin). I tried minimal pairs and a few other things, but I could always use some more suggestions. Thanks
Jim

[tomato]

Hello, J. Kelly!

Have you tried focussing on only one vowel at a time?
For each phoneme, I make a card game which is like a concentration game, except that the object is not to make matching, but to make sentences.
One-third of the cards have an S in the corner and a subject noun or pronoun beginning with a capital letter.
One-third of the cards have a V in the corner and a verb.
(Be sure that the subjects and verbs are either all singular or all plural.)
One-third of the cards have an O in the corner and a noun or object pronoun followed by a period.

If I am diligent enough, I find illustrations for the cards through a Google search.

Here is a sample sentence:



I recommend focussing on one vowel at a time, and mixing the vowels afterward.
Then mixing the vowels will be easy IF you are lucky.
I added that last clause because I am currently teaching a second-rade class using Hooked on Phonics.
We dwelled on short a for a long time, then we dwelled on short i for a long time.
They did just fine on either one.
But now it has come time to mix the two, and they are having the dangdest time.

PS How did you type the vowel sound for "cat"?
I can't get ASC II symbols to work on this forum?

[cranura]

frontal vowel sounds (sound going to the front of the mouth) with the back of the throat opening wider and wider are natural sounds for our animal

get away from the mind and use the body:

three exercises:

staccato: EE IH AY EH AE (feet fit fate fete fat) -- like a machine gun -- pop the sounds out -- exaggerate the opening of the throat and mouth

glissando: eeeeeihhhhhhayyyyyyyyeehhhhhhhaaaeeeeeeee -- sliding the throat and mouth open wider and wider the sounds will come out naturally -- you can hear some diphthongs also but the focus is on the five major vowel sounds....again exaggerate the opening and smoothly flow the sound as the throat opens wider -- you will distinctly hear the flow of those vowel sounds (great fun)

treat it like a music lesson .... machine gun.....slide......machine gun.....slide

and finally add consonant sounds (e.g., beet bit bait bet bat)

there are many examples of the workings of the mouth and throat and the flow of the sound (wind) for vowels pronunciation...sometimes seeing pictures of that action will help these exercises

[jkelly80]

Those are both good. Thanks all.

[mj roach]

Using your hand/finger to give visual 'cues' as to the 'direction' of the sound being produced can be helpful.

It's easy enough to make your own system. Make the sounds slowly and deliberately yourself and think about the 'direction' - 'a' down - 'e' straight outward - 'i' up.

Also, 'exaggerate' your 'head/lip/chin' movement when 'modeling' the sounds - 'a' jaw drops down, head moves slightly down - 'e' jaw/lips/head 'jut' straight outward - 'i' chin/head upward

Not very 'scientific' but kids don't get those diagrams and jargon.