Hearing and Pronunciation Practice

Systematic listening discrimination and sound production using nonsense syllables and physical techniques.

Two Main Techniques

Distinguishing (easier): Teacher says two syllables (e.g. "tha tha"). Learners signal if sounds are same or different.

Identifying (harder): Teacher says one syllable at a time -- either the target sound or a confusing alternative. Learners signal only when they hear the target.

Use nonsense syllables (e.g. /tha/ vs /za/ vs /da/) to avoid meaning interference.

Five-Step Pronunciation Process

1. Analyse -- compare the target sound with the learner's replacement sound.
2. Hear -- distinguishing, then identifying practice (~20 reps per session).
3. Copy -- listen and repeat after the teacher.
4. Observe -- watch the mouth; give simple explanations (use "top teeth," not "labio-dental").
5. Force -- use physical techniques for stubborn sounds (see below).

Physical Forcing Techniques

• /r/: Place finger or pencil under tongue and push back to prevent tooth-ridge contact.
• /ð/: Put tongue between teeth, bite gently -- teeth touch front of tongue, not tip.
• /w/: Point forefinger at mouth, form lips around fingertip (prevents /v/ substitution).
• /l/: Press tongue tip hard against back of top teeth, make a long sound.

Tips

• Keep sessions short (a few minutes) but repeat over multiple days/weeks.
• Target sounds that don't exist in L1 or occur in different syllable positions.
• Progress from distinguishing to identifying to production before using real words.