Pronunciation “Students who learn to recognize important signals of the natural rhythms and melodies of English often report improved understanding of speech on TV, in movies, and in face-toface conversations.” Judy Gilbert
The world’s favorite pronunciation series Clear Speech Judy B. Gilbert Clear Speech sets the standard of pronunciation instruction. Regardless of their language background, all students benefit from a focus on comprehensibility and contextualized practice – a methodology that author Judy Gilbert has been refining for years.
6 A
Sentence Focus: Emphasizing Content Words
Contrast 1 Compare the two pictures below. In the picture on the left, the butterfly is hard to see because it is the same color as the things around it. The butterfly on the right is lighter than everything else around it. This contrast between light and dark makes the butterfly easier to notice.
The Most Important Areas of Pronunciation • Not all aspects of pronunciation contribute equally to comprehensibility. Clear Speech focuses students’ attention on the importance of intonation, rhythm, and stress to being understood by native speakers.
2 This is the same kind of contrast English speakers use to stress a syllable and its peak vowel in important words. This contrast helps emphasize important words so that they are easy for a listener to notice. Listen. One word in the sentence below is emphasized and the other words are de-emphasized. This is contrast.
“easy”?
Hundreds of Clear, Effective Exercises • Just like any language skill, pronunciation takes practice. Clear Speech uses exercises developed by Judy Gilbert and tested in classrooms all over the world. The result is that students improve their pronunciation faster and better With the Pronunciation: Clear Speech Appthan they thought for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch available possible.
B
Focus words In each thought group (a short sentence, clause, or phrase), there is only one most important word. This word is the focus word. You can help your listeners notice the focus word by giving it extra emphasis. To make a strong contrast, the stressed vowel in the focus word must be pronounced with extra clarity. /i y/ peak vowel
on the App Store, you can: play games and practice pronunciation cambridge.org/clearspeech in a fun, interactive way
eas stressed syllable
cambridge.org/clearspeechfromthestart
easy focus word
With the Student’s Book Audio available at www.cambridge.org/clearspeech, you can: download the MP3s for all the listening activities in the Student’s Book review and practice all the sounds, intonation, and rhythm patterns presented and practiced in class
How do you spell “easy”? thought group
44 • Clear Speech
The series focuses on the areas of English that are most important for comprehensibility
The complete audio program is available for students to download free of charge at
Clear Speech Student’s Book Teacher’s Resource and Assessment Book Class and Assessment Audio CDs (4)
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$29.60 $26.40 $79.00
Clear Speech from the Start Second edition 978-1-107-68715-8 978-1-107-60431-5 978-1-107-61172-6
Clear Speech Fourth edition 978-1-107-68295-5 978-1-107-63706-1 978-1-107-62743-7
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