Workshop Two Videos Discussion by Billy Rogers

Workshop Two Videos Discussion by Billy Rogers https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r Post your comments here en-us 2018-03-06 15:25:20 UTC 2026-02-13 03:01:10 UTC hello@padlet.com Eszter123 https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/260136702 I agree, I don't think a linguist can promise anyone that they can sound like a native. In all fairness to the maker of the "Sound like a native" series, he also mentioned that "if you don't feel like doing this, it will still help your listening", so I don't think "Sound like a native" is any more than a catchy title. Hell, I don't want to sound like him :-D

I think the videos are quite useful for learners, in fact I'll definitely share the one on Intrusion with my students, because this was the topic of my peer observed pronunciation lesson! Some of them add a bit of humour (if a bit cringe-worthy), but I think they could be useful for students, especially the short ones that don't require a long attention span from the viewers.

For teachers, I think they could sometimes be useful. I found that there are some bits that might help my students understand the pronunciation points better, such as "grammar words" being the words that usually have weak forms ("grammar words" being the auxiliary/modal verbs, prepositions, pronouns, articles etc. that don't carry the main meaning in the sentence). I'd imagine this perspective could help some students understand better, even if it's not the official terminology. I definitely found the linguistics video useful, even if it was often quite technical.

(Eszter)

]]> 2018-05-12 13:07:02 UTC https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/260136702 https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/260481180 These videos are certainly useful, but I don't think all would be useful for students. The first video, for instance, on connected speech is useful for teachers who want to have an in-depth knowledge, but is definitely too technical and complicated for most students. At one point he says a phoneme "regressively assimilates its place of articulation" - This certainly seems to technical for most students, possibly even for most teachers. The video also has really poor sound quality, something which could put students off and even make it difficult for them to understand. The other videos seem more suitable for students and could prove very useful. The BBC videos by "Tim" are well-made and recorded, and he also explains concepts like catenation and assimilation very clearly. The video from Oxford Online English about weak forms is also quite well-explained, but the way it's presented (in front of a green-screen like the news weather) seems like it could be a bit boring for students. I know sometimes students need to put up with a bit of boredom, but I worry that watching a video like this could put students off focusing on pronunciation, so for this reason I wouldn't show this video to students - I'd try to find something a little more engaging. I suppose the main point this raises is that if we want to recommend some extra material to students, they should be at the right level and should also reasonably engaging - we don't want to deter them from developing their knowledge of pronunciation. (Tom)]]> 2018-05-14 14:18:38 UTC https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/260481180 Prounciation Videos coburg55 https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/262200181
I found these videos were useful in reinforcing and illustrating the rules of connected speech. However I would be cautious about showing them to students. Obviously, the linguist' s videos are helpful for teachers but not so much for students. When you cut through some of the academic jargon, the basic points of the videos are clear.

Trying to get your head around the rules for intrusion, assimilation etc can be confusing for many. I think these videos would be useful as a follow up after doing some connected speech exercises with Advanced students who wanted to know more. Apart from that, they're useful for clarifying the basics of connected speech. The natural examples of usage in the videos were appropriately chosen too. The videos didn't come across as too patronising in their delivery either.

I realise that teachers need to be animated and exaggerate while teaching prounciation but some teachers take the biscuit when they infantalize students in manner similar to a children's TV Presenter. Maybe such teachers need to be taught intonation for showing respect to students.
Patrick ]]> 2018-05-20 18:49:54 UTC https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/262200181 Pronunciation Videos daphne_conway1990 https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/264040461 I found these videos quite useful. They clearly demonstrate target sounds as well as underline what exactly happens with sounds in everyday speech. Even though they only deal with British English, I found that they helped me understand some aspects of pronunciation better. The first video on connected speech and the fourth on weak forms were particularly helpful for me because they provided me with a better understanding on the topic and also helped me provide more examples to students. I found the videos on intrusion, catenation and assimilation useful too, although they didn’t go into as much depth. I would probably recommend the last four to higher level students who need some further practice (as they also have brief drilling activities) or who are having difficulty forming the sound. Moreover, I might also use one in class as an introduction to the topic (of e.g. linking) as a warmer or even after practicing as additional input. In general though I think they may contain too much information and become confusing for some students.

Daphne]]> 2018-05-28 14:28:41 UTC https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/264040461 Pron Videos https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/264650657 I have to admit that although I found the linguistic video interesting and certainly useful for my own understanding , I would only consider recommending it to a student keen to get behind the science of English, perhaps a CPE candidate .
As pointed out in the blurb, it is for linguistic students.
The others were well-produced, clear and informative but would only suit a very good Int class and up.
Although...
Certainly one the most challenging aspects for students is understanding native speakers and our word-munching ways. I think one thing that has emerged for me throughout these workshops and tasks is that even by telling students about these aspects of spoken English, we are improving their comprehension of what they hear, or perhaps don't hear. The nice, clear language they are used to in class is simply a teaching tool and not in fact a true representation of the English spoken 5 feet outside the door of their classroom.
Therefore by recommending these videos we are encouraging the students to be curious about the spoken word. It would be ideal to be able to show your class one of these videos as part of a lead in to a pron session, provide them with some props and get them outside to record their own version of it. That would allow them to listen to and identify assimilation/catenation/weak forms, etc in a nonRP accent and perhaps remove some doubts or nerves for the more recent arrivals. "It's ok not to understand everything immediately, hang in there! But here's why..."

A final consideration might again be the use of technical vs teaching language.
Remembering that weak forms exist and are commonplace is more important than remembering that they're called weak forms.

Fergal]]> 2018-05-30 23:16:55 UTC https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/264650657 Pronunciation videos https://padlet.com/billy19/sqpgp8ilf07r/wish/265423903 The first video was interesting for me as a teacher, and as you said Billy it is intended for linguistics students. The others were very interesting but again for me as a teacher. I found the videos on intrusion, assimilation and catenation were good for helping me to get a better handle on those aspects of connected speech, intrusion etc however I think they are very short and could throw up unnecessary confusion for students. As Fergal said you'd want to be sure of your students' command of English to be pointing them in that direction.

It might be interesting to use them, as others have suggested, as a lead-in to a pron part of a lesson or as an extension and get them their feedback on what they've noticed. Certainly raising awareness of these aspects of pronunciation might aid learners to pick apart the issues they are having and work on them outside school. They could also go out an do their own pronunciation interviews – ask the same question and elicit responses, noting how sounds change according to accent. Interesting and informative videos.

Ali

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