My teaching methods

The sound system of every foreign language has some aspects which cause little problem, and other aspects which are very difficult. By using the principles of phonetic science, I can identify accurately the causes of your pronunciation and perception difficulties. I will be able to focus on the specific problems which are most important (usually just a few), and help you quickly and efficiently improve your speaking and listening skills.

However, it's not just individual sounds which are important. There's nothing worse than a flat, monotonous voice, which is boring, or stressing the wrong words, which can sound as if you didn't understand the other person and can make your own meaning unclear. It is important both to speak in a lively and entertaining way and also that this takes account of the context and what others have just said. We will practice both the physical aspect of how to make certain words stand out as more important, and also learn how to look at the context and participants' relationships to identify what to emphasise and how to speak so as to bring the meaning out most clearly.

Using an entertaining and highly interactive teaching style, in which you will have the opportunity to practice speaking in a variety of styles, I will give you the opportunity to focus on those specific sounds and words which consistently cause you problems as well as to identify how to put life into your voice. If necessary, I will use computer software to give you biofeedback on your pronunciation to help you both hear and see the relevant problems.

Contact me on 07816 155472 to arrange your instruction in Phonetics.