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Khoff Posted 21 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

Teaching vowel sounds

0 I am a volunteer ESL tutor without any professional training. My Russian students have a hard time distinguishing between the vowel sounds in "bed" and "bad." How can I explain to them how to produce the different sounds, when they don't hear any difference? Thanks! --khoff 0-
  

Top answer

0 Oof! That's tough if they can't hear any difference! 02br 02br 00I would attempt to have them produce the difference by concentrating on the movement of the chin when moving from one to the another and back.

— CalifJim

  • 0 Oof!
  • That's tough if they can't hear any difference!
  • 02br 02br 00I would attempt to have them produce the difference by concentrating on the movement of the chin when moving from one to the another and back.
  • Demonstrate with e - a - e, holding your hand to your chin.
  • Exaggerate the motion and open almost too wide on the 'a'.
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9 Answers
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0 Oof! That's tough if they can't hear any difference! 02br
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00I would attempt to have them produce the difference by concentrating on the movement of the chin when moving from one to the another and back. Demonstrate with e - a - e, holding your hand to your chin. Exaggerate the motion and open almost too wide on the 'a'. Have them imitate this, also holding their chi
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0 On the other hand, note that it's the rhythm and stress pattern of English that is more important to master than the exact quality of the vowels. I wouldn't overstress them if the a / e difference doesn't come to them right away. Generally speaking I back off of situations like this which frustrate the students, put it on the back burner, and bring up the subject later. There are always pl
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0 Thanks, Jim - I will definitely try the chin postition distinction. I hesitate to invoke the sheep, because who knows what sheep say in Russian - whatever it is, I'm sure it uses a Russian vowel sound! I rarely stress the exact vowel sound (unless its something socially dangerous, like sheep/ship, sheet/----, which is another one they have trouble with) because I think it should usually be c
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0 I must respectfully disagree about sheep. They are steadfastly monolingual! 02br
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00As for sheets, they will quickly learn to say "linens", or, in the case of paper, a "piece" of paper! 02br
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050010id1
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0 And how about that item from a thread in the vocabulary forum - the sheet cake? 0-
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0 So have you tried the book and the tape? They are getting on a bit, I know, but still effective. 02br
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00From Amazon 02br
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00Ship or Sheep? Student's book : An Intermediate Pronunciation Course (Introducing English Pronunciation) -- by Ann Baker; Paperback 02br
00Buy new: $18.70 -- Used & new from: $12.60 02br
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Let them say the words 'APPLE' and 'EGG'. Surely they know these items are different, so they should then see a difference in the letters A and E. Good luck.
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Why are you teaching russians english?
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Because the Russians want to learn it?

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