Lesson 9: Improve Pronunciation with Tongue Twister

          Tongue twisters are a collection of words or phrases that are difficult to say correctly. They are also a great tool for language learners to use to practise their English pronunciation. These fun phrases can be difficult for even native speakers, with confusing alliteration and combinations of similar words. Practising these challenging sentences out loud will help you to get the hang of various sounds and get your pronunciation just right. You should start by saying the tongue twister slowly, repeating it and then building up speed. Try to say the tongue twister a few times in a row, as fast as you can, for a bigger challenge. Practice the following tongue twisters several times a day and see if you notice any improvement in your pronunciation.

Using tongue twisters in pronunciation class gives advantages to the students of English Department. Firstly, tongue twisters improve their motivation as a result of various activities conducted during the course like whispering game, watching videos, and peer teaching. They become more self confident as they are actively involved in the learning process. Their awarness of using accurate pronunciation also improves. It was indicated when one of the students, spontanously, told us that so far he made mistake when pronouncing the word ‘sweater’. He used to pronounce /swi:te(r)/ ‘sweeter’ instead of pronouncing the correct one /swetə/. Secondly, the class condition also improves. The students learnt in more exciting and relax atmosphere. They were willing to actively response to the lecturer’s questions and instruction. They also enjoyed the pleasant sounds the tongue twisters made. It made the class more alive. Whispering game was one of valuable techniques to improve class condition. Finally, their pronunciation improves. Since they got models from native speakers by watching youtube videos specifically concerning tongue twisters and routine drills using tongue twister before starting the class, they could minimize mistakes. The improvement was observed during course and the result of the test. Moreover, their muscles became relax when pronouncing words.

Some difficult tongue twisters to try:

-        The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick

-      Can you can a canned can into an un-canned can like a canner can can a canned can into an un-canned can?

-    When a doctor doctors a doctor, does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as the doctor being doctored wants to be doctored or does the doctor doing the doctoring doctor as he wants to doctor?