Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tera]

Hello everyone

I am a senior student in the university. And I think English learning is not just grammar or vocabulary. Learning how to communicate in English is very important.Do you think so? then, please tell me some tips to improve pronunciation and intonation.

[advoca]

First a few tips on your English. Pleae always use a capital letter for I. Next, the word is pronunciation (not pronounciation).

Next, some more tips. You cannot learn pronunciation by simply reading English. You must hear the words being spoken. It may not be easy to find an English speaker to ask for the correct pronunciation, so try to find someone who will communicate with you be e-mail and explain how to pronounce words that you are not sure about.

For example, pronunciation is pronounced pro (to rhyme with show) NUN (to rhyme with fun, or bun) see (to rhyme with bee) a (to rhyme with day) shun (to rhyme with bun)

Try and find someone who will give you advice like this if you cannot find an English speaker to talk to.

You can also go to web pages that give oral lessons. The BBC has an interesting web page specially designed for learners of English. There are audio passages there that are very interesting and specially designed for learners.

[Tera]

[shaoying]

I really agree your point of view. Speaking and listening should be priority to writing and reading. You can practice that in listening to English or some movies. Try to speak it loudly when you get chance and grab every opportunity to talk to foreigners.

[nemeh]

Hi ,

If the President of the US, George W Bush, speaks bad English, why are you worried about your English, Tera?

[obelix]

The President of the USA speaks perfectly good colloquial English. Call me when your English is as good as his.
Do not believe everything you read in the left wing press, which fancies itself as a hotbed of intellectualism. If you are a native English speaker, spare us the snide comments and post them on the proper forum which is the Opinions forum

[nemeh]

I don't want to learn such a funny English, sir

"I'm so pleased to be able to say hello to Bill Scranton. He's one of the great Pennsylvania political families." �George W. Bush, Drexel Hill, Penn., Sept. 15, 2003

"Iran would be dangerous if they "have" a nuclear weapon." �George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 18, 2003

[obelix]

What was it about the two quotes that you didn't understand?
The purpose of language is to communicate and I would imagine that you understood what he meant?
It is not his grammar you have a problem with really, is it?

[bud]

Obelix, even Bush has made jokes about his lack of command of the language. It's only one tiny part of the man, whether one likes him or not.

[HappyCharles]

You can focus on the channel of CNN, or listen to ICRT. You'll realize how they pronounce well and good intonation. Movies and music will help you partly. If you would like to practice your English conversation, you can also go to the cram school to practice English.

[Betty Chu]

Hi, I am a Chinese student. I am worried about my pronounciation, too. I am too shy to talk with others. Anyway, there are good ways to speak well, such as speaking books loudly, listening to redio and hearing English programs. I have asked a teacher for litesning to my pronouciation. Till now, I have a reading class for the teacher. I also listen to the CD and readio whenever I have tree time. You can choose to hear CNN and BBC. I think you may become better even though you are not a native speaker. Good luck.

[advoca]

Hi Tera (and anyone else interested in learning how to pronounce English words)

One way to learn how to pronounce words is to get a copy of the Random House Webster's Dictionary of American English. It is designed for learners of English as a second language. Each word listed has a clear explanation of how to pronounce that word.

Another way, is to get a copy of Collins Interactive Dictionary on CD ROM. This speaks every word as well as explaining it. This dictionary gives the British way of pronunciation. It is also designed for learners of English as a second language.

Advoca[/b]

[allenhsu]

I think advoca supply excellent ideas to improve English pronunciation, and I have some complemental thinkings.
First, you can go to some places where westerner always aggregate, such as churchs and universities. Absolutely don't choosing night clubs or pubs because in those places westerners' English usually are no class. Before going to find westerners in churchs or universities, you must have some topics first to cinverse with them. And then you can tell them what your purpose is; most of them are sympathetic. But be careful your themes, don't tell a pastor " I am going to cause an abortion !" or tell a teacher " I hate somebody and I'll kill him..." These themes all are sins.

Cheer up!!
_________________
Hello everyone~~
I come from Taiwan
I hope can make many friends here~~

[servando]

There are one page for fonetic, it is not the best resourse, but I believe that it coukld help to you and he other that wants it

[shane12]

Check out this site to help you with pronunciation, it's free

http://www.aacfs.com/10pronunciationtipsforAsianspeakers.htm

good luck,

shane