Keep a steady rhythm.
前回のレッスンでは、言葉グセを無くし、効果的な間をとる勉強をしました。 このレッスンでは、リズムとイントネーションを理解し、より流暢に聞こえる決まり文句の使い方をご説明致します。
What is English word stress? Discuss this with your teacher.
In English, there are three ways to stress a word:
- louder/softer (volume);
- higher/lower (pitch); and
- longer/shorter (word length).
Of these three, word length is vastly more important, especially comparing native English speakers with non-native level.
One way to describe stressing and de-stressing words is "chunking"—saying a group of words as a phrase. Native speakers always do this. You can tell your student:
Native speakers always put words together. We. don't. speak. like. this. Instead, we speak like this.
Even non-native speakers usually do this a little. The phrase "Nice to meet you" is pushed together to sound like /nahys-t'MEE-chu/. This is an example of chunking.
TESTS
- G.B.C.: This lesson should help a lot. Criteria such as "spoke haltingly" and "failed to fill pauses smoothly" are often weak points for students.
- IELTS: This lesson is also great for IELTS. As the speaking section is 11–14 minutes, there are plenty of chances to use these phrases. Everything the student says in that time needs to be fluent anyway, so work on this lesson carefully.
Your instructor will read these phrases and stress the key words. Listen and repeat. If you have not used these phrases, then discuss their meaning. If you can think of any other phrases you tend to use, practice those, too.
- That's a good question.
- Let me see...
- How shall I put it...
- Let me think about that for a moment.
Now work through these phrases that you can use either at the beginning of your answer or to introduce a key point.
- So, first of all...
- In my opinion...
- To be honest...
- As a matter of fact...
-
...or something like that.
Focus on tone and flow with your student, and help them stretch words. The goal is for students to get a sense of English rhythm.
Some notes about word stress:
- English words are always stressed by stretching the peak vowel sound.
- Unstressed words are cut short, like the "to" in "nice to meet you", which is /nice-t'-mii-chu/.
- Which word you stress depends on the meaning you want to give the sentence. For now, just stress the main words.
Here is a guide to how these phrases sound. The capitalized sounds are stretched.
- That's a good question... /thaa-tsa-gud-KWES-chin/
- Let me see... /le-mi-SI/
- How shall I put it... /HAU-sha-lai-PU-tit/
- Let me think about that for a moment... /lemi-THINK-abau-tha-f'r-a-MO-mint/
Phrases that you can use at the beginning of your answer or to introduce a key point:
- So, first of all /so-FUR-stuv-al/
- In my opinion /in-MAI-uh-pin-yun/
- To be honest /t'bi-YON-ist/
- As a matter of fact /a-za-MAT-tur-o-FACT/
- ...or something like that. /...ur-SUM-thin-laik-tha'/
You can point out that English speakers chunk all of our language, but working on the rhythm of set phrases is a good entry point for doing this naturally.
Try reading this answer with as much word stress as you can. Your instructor will help you.
Are World Heritage Sites important?
To be honest, I've never thought about that before. Are they important? Well, I'd say, yes, absolutely. First of all, World Heritage Sites are a chance to look back at the past, to look at history and experience it. You know, they say, "Those who cannot remember the past will definitely repeat it," or something like that. And, as a matter of fact, I think that's exactly right. Also, of course, World Heritage Sites, like Mount Fuji, are gorgeous. So, in my opinion, yes, World Heritage Sites are important. I hope to visit more in the future.
Stresses for the whole answer could be something like this:
To be HONest, I've never THOUGHT about that before. Are they imPORtant? Well, I'd say, YES, absoLUTEly. FIRST of all, WORLD HERitage Sites are a chance to LOOK BACK at the PAST, to LOOK at HIStory, and exPERience it. You know, they say, "THOSE who cannot reMEMber the past will DEFinitely repeat it," or SOMEthing like that. And, as a MAtter of FACT, I think that's exACTly right. ALso, of course, WORLD HERitage Sites, like MOUNT FUji, are GORgeous. So, in MY opinion, YES, WORLD HERitage Sites ARE important. I hope to visit MORE in the FUture.
Stop your student if necessary, and repeat the target phrases with natural word stress. Do this as much as you can while maintaining energy in the lesson.
You can tell them that repeating phrases along with a native speaker is called shadowing, and it's a popular, effective way to improve. Actually, shadowing is used in nearly all disciplines. Many people in big companies have a mentor, and they are shown how to do key tasks. This is a form of shadowing.
Some students don't like this listen-and-repeat (in real time) style, and that may be a battle you can't win. Just encourage willing students to practice as much as possible.
Extra input
If your student is doing well with this or is hungry for more, discuss this idea:
Word stress in personalized phrases:
- I’d say…
- From my perspective...
- If you ask me...
Students often don’t realize that the “I”, “my” or “me” is the part that should be emphasized. Even for phrases like, "I think" or, “at my company”.
Now, practice answering some questions and focus on the rhythm of speech.