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Speakers of RP: British Newsreaders and Journalists
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One of the best ways you can improve your pronunciation is to regularly listen to native English speakers who speak with a clear and are easy to understand accent. Observe them carefully and try to mimic their sounds. Below are links to videos of British newsreaders and journalists who speak RP in some form or another.
George Alagiah
Katty Kay
Mishal Husain
Sophie Raworth
Fiona Bruce
Michael Buerk
Emily Maitlis
Mary Nightingale
Kate Silverton
Julie Etchingham
Think like a native to speak like a native.
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- Written by Anton
- Category: Learning Tips
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This course aims to help students develop natural English pronunciation using accelerated learning techniques and visual aids.
Understanding how your brain functions and how new experiences establish neural links is an essential part to improvement. Once these neural pathways have been formed they must be cultivated and strengthened.
Step 1
It all starts with the international phonetic alphabet. The English alphabet is not a phonetic script and therefore not an accurate guide for pronunciation. However, the international phonetic alphabet helps us distinguish and identify the different phonemes that exist in the English language. While the English alphabet only has 5 vowels, in fact more than 20 vowel sounds exist. These 20 vowels sounds can be divided into monophthongs, diphthongs and long vowel sounds.
Step 2
Tune your ears. The human brain requires constant practice and reinforcement to adapt to something new. Comparing similar but different sounds within the context of various situations helps the brain establish and reinforce the neural pathways to become better adept at being able to identify the small details that often non native speakers miss.
For example, the short vowel /ʌ/ and the schwa sound /ə/ can sound very similar, but they are in fact different. Initially students may perceive both sounds to be almost identical. However, constant reinforcement by comparing these two sounds in the context of different syllables and vocabulary will help the brain become accustomed to the subtle differences.
Step 3
Reinforcement in the real world. A pronunciation course and structure can only provide students with the essential tools, knowledge and groundwork. The knowledge gained within the classroom must then be applied in the real world.
- Listen to natural spoken English as much as possible.
- Observe the facial movements and breathing of native English speakers.
- Try and compare yourself and adapt. Remember, practice makes perfect.
Step 4
Immerse yourself in the natural sounds of British English as much as possible. Audio books are an excellent resource that can help you achieve this, since narrators tend to speak clearly and at a steady pace. Audible has a vast library of audio books on a range of subjects narrated by different people. For example, if you wish to tune your ears to the natural sounds of Received Pronunciation, start with one of the many books narrated by Stephen Fry. See link below.
International phonetic alphabet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mypronunciaton/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rpenglish
Online self-study course: https://receivedpronunciation.thinkific.com/collections
British English Pronunciation PRIVATE 1-1 ONLINE Workshop
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- Written by Anton
- Category: Workshop Event
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Do people often fail to understand you even though your grammar is correct? Do you wish to learn to speak English with a more native-like accent that is easy for people to understand? Perhaps you can write grammatically correct sentences, but when it comes to conversation you have difficulty communicating due to poor pronunciation and intonation?
The aim of this workshop is to give the student the necessary tools and knowledge to help them improve their English pronunciation and listening skills. The student will be introduced to the phonemes of English and the International Phonetic Alphabet. Following from this we will compare and practice pronunciation of vowels, consonants and basic sentence structures.
This course also attempts to take into consideration the linguistic background of the student which may be preventing them from acquiring natural English pronunciation. The use of vocal cords, movement of tongue and use of facial muscles tends to vary from one language to another. Developing this awareness is a fundamental step to adopting more native-like English pronunciation.
This workshop will also explore accelerated learning techniques to help the student develop the necessary tools and thinking patterns to help them develop native-like pronunciation.
This workshop is mainly aimed at non-native English speakers and ESL (English Second Language) students. Whether you are a student or a working adult, everyone is welcome to attend from beginners to advanced. This pronunciation class focuses on RP which stands for "Received Pronunciation".
FAQs
Who can attend this event?
The main target audience is non-native English speakers of all levels. However, anyone is welcome to attend.
How do I attend?
Previous workshops were held in physical venues but due to the current health crisis, workshops will be held online for the foreseeable future.
We will use Zoom Video Conferencing. The application can be downloaded for free from zoom.us. Prior to the workshop you will receive a link to join the video conference.
Please ensure that you have a webcam so that you can participate.
Do you offer private lessons?
Yes, please contact the organizer directly stating your requirements.
How can I contact the organizer?
Please contact the organizer via the contact form. Contact number available once checkout is completed.
For more information please visit: http://www.mypronunciation.co.uk
Join our Facebook group for free materials and information on British English pronunciation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mypronunciation/
Self-study course: https://receivedpronunciation.thinkific.com/courses/british-english-pronunciation-received-pronunciation
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