Shrinking and linking by Jason R. Levine

Shrinking and Linking(Shrinkin_n_linkin)

Practical Techniques for Teaching Stress and Reduced

Speech

-------Jason R. Levine

True or False?

We want our students to feel stress.

True! We want our students to feel

There’s a fine line between raising awareness of

pronunciation and raising

It’s usually best to follow the 3Rs

True or False?

The rhythm of English is

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Students feel stressed.

The students feel stressed. (Th’students feel stressed.)

The students are feeling stressed. (Th’students_r feeling stressed.)

The students have been feeling stressed.(Th’students_ve bin feelin stressed.)

1 2 3

Subject + verb + object/complement

True or False?

Sentence stress changes according

to how formal a situation is.

How many people are there in your family?

How many people_r there_in yr family?

What are you going to do on Friday?

What_re ya gonna do_on Friday?

Formal or informal? Rude or polite?

The key determiner: INTONATION

In formal situations, we usually speak with a higher toneand more intonation.

In less formal situations, we usually speak with a lower toneand less intonation.

TECHNIQUE #1: Highlight word and sentence stress

- I think (that) - I don’t think (that)- I feel (that) - I don’t feel (that)- I believe (that) - I don’t believe (that)

I think this is best.I believe that it’s true.I feel that you can do it.You know what to do.

I think this_is the best.I believe that_it’s_true.I feel thatchu kin do it.I think ya know what t’do.

TECHNIQUE #2: Have students mark stress after a listening task.

Students who make great effort to memorize material-cramming it into their heads to regurgitate it the next day on an exam-typically remember this material for only a short period of time.

TECHNIQUE #3: Have students mark stress before a listening task.

This plan won’t work. I’m not so sure that is true.

I’ll bet we can find a lower price. I think you’re right.

How do feel about it? I don’t care either way.

TECHNIQUE #4: Focus on stress and reduced speech in dictations.

EXAMPLE PROCEDURE:

1. Dictate a total of five sentences (authentic English).2. Repeat each sentence at least three times, giving students time to write. Do not change the speed or stress patterns.3. Ask students to write down the stressed words first.4. Pair students up to compare their work and reconstruct the sentences as best they can.5. Elicit sentences from students or have them write them on the board.6. Ask students to highlight the word and sentence stress.

SAMPLE DICTATION:

1. What’s the weather supposed to be like today?2. Where do you feel like going for lunch?3. Tell her we’ll meet her around two.4. Actually, I think I’ll stay at home tonight and watch TV.5. Do you want to meet at the library tomorrow?

Extension activity: Students write responses and create dialogs or stories.

TECHNIQUE #5: Meaningful Shadowing and Repetition

TRY…

scenes from movies and TV shows, music videos, commercials,role plays created by students, scenes from plays and musicals,famous speeches, karaoke, poetry, limericks, jokes, tongue twisters,songs…

Chant Practice

Do you think this is best?Do you believe that it’s true?Do you feel that you can do it?Do you know what to do?

I believe this is the answer.I feel that it’s right.I hope you understand me.I think that you might.

It’s The Weekly English Workout with Fluency MC.Stick with me. I guarantee to keep you worry-free.Indeed, you’ll see! The key to speaking is to lower

your stress.Having fun when you learn is when you learn the

best!Stop studying grammar rules and cramming for

tests.Give your brain a rest or you might get depressed.

All of us are blessed, no matter what our ageto learn a second language when we feel engaged.

Join The English Workout. Follow the 3Rs.Relax, Repeat, Remember. It’ll take you far!

Song Practice

Don’t memorize to learn.