New Year's Greeting

Christmas and Chanukah 2011

The Ultimate Minimal Pairs Source

A minimal pair is a pair of words that differs in a single phoneme or speech sound. For example, the contrast between [p] and [b] could be shown through pairs such as pat - bat or lab - lap. Teachers love to use minimal pairs to show contrasts and check student listening and learners love minimal pairs to practice pronunciation and master challenging contrasts.


If you're a teacher or student searching for the ultimate source for minimal pairs, then you have to visit Minimal Pairs for English RP: Lists by John Higgins. John Higgins now boasts a total of 92,253 pairs divided into vowels and diphthongs and consonants look-up tables. Users simply click on the two sounds to be paired on the look-up tables and a list of pairs is returned. At times, there is some minor phonetic transcription to pinpoint the sounds but the easy to use transcriptional table simplifies the task.  Student and teachers alike will enjoy this worthwhile site.

Vowel and Diphthong Minimal Pair Look-up Table

Consonant Minimal Pair Look-up Table

'RP' in the site title means Received Pronunciation also called the Queen's (or King's) English. Be forewarned the site is based on British not American pronunciation.

What's Your ESL Level?

I always tell my students they should be more concerned with learning than with their ESL benchmark levels. Benchmarks are just numbers, but they do provide a common set of standards for measuring language learning. There are four types of benchmarks and each describes ability within a specific area of language skill or combination of skills. The four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) offers "Can Do Checklists" to help students informally assess what they can do or need to learn at a particular benchmark level. If all you want is to get an idea of your ESL level, have a look at the checklists below:

Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks

Can Do Checklists

Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Level 4     Level 5

  Level 6     Level 7     Level 8     Level 9     Level 10

Remember a checklist assessment is no substitute for a proper benchmark test administered by an expert practitioner.

Close Encounters of the English Kind

Founded in Toronto in 1910, University Settlement is a multi-service agency with the distinction of being the first community-based social service centre in the city. University Settlement strives to meet the social, economic, and cultural needs of its downtown Toronto newcomer neighbours and users through its many programs and services. University Settlement Language Department, it seems, has a well-kept secret more ESL students should know about to help improve speaking and self-confidence.

 

University Settlement English Corner offers perhaps one of the most unique ESL speaking practice programs you’ll ever find.  English Corner is unique in that it offers free, authentic, one on one, tailor-made, speaking opportunities for students. Students are paired with local volunteer teachers who assist with pronunciation and accent reduction. Under teacher guidance, each student, regardless of eloquence, must do one minute of public speaking. New topics are set for each class and teachers help students prepare presentations. The program also requires a more involved final presentation.  Classes are each an hour and half and run for six weeks. University Settlement, in this case, proves the adage 'with age comes experience and wisdom.'  Click here or on the logo above to visit the University Settlement website.

For more information on English Corner or to register contact: University Settlement at 416/977-8325 Ext. 229

'Swinging The Alphabet' Pronunciation Contest!

The Three Stooges have always been a part of my life. In fact, it may have been the Three Stooges who inspired me and perhaps many others to teach English. Watch the very inspirational video of the Stooges teaching the ABC's and vowel sounds in their own special way.  Click here to download the lyrics to Swinging the Alphabet.

To practice your pronunciation and exercise your vocal chords, why don't you sing Swinging the Alphabet? Get those vowel sounds just right. Make a video of yourself singing the song and Email it to the following address:

frsqdwk8lfry@m.youtube.com

All entries must be submitted by December 15, 2011. Be sure to state your name, where you're from and your first language. More than one entry is allowed. Once all entries are submitted, they will be posted publicly and voted on by everyone.  The contest is not open to Native English speakers. The winner will be eligible for a $25 prize.

You snooze, you lose!

Snazzy 'not' Nominated Badge

Well I really blew it this time. The nomination deadline for the 2011 Best Grammar Blog passed last month and I never saw to it that this blog got entered in the competition. Several finalists (less yours truly) have passed the nomination five-vote barrier and have made it into the last phase of the contest. All votes for the final winner must be entered between September 26th and October 17th, 2011. I must admit, there are some fine blogs and websites in this year’s competition. You should click here or on the snazzy 'not' nominated badge to visit the contest site, check the blogs, and vote for your favorite. Needless to say, 2012 is going to be a different story and guess who is going to win!

Go Ahead...Make a Noun of Yourself!

Here is a must see for every student and teacher. I know you'll enjoy it. The video even plugs my favourite dictionary. Bravo Adam Cole and Robert Krulwich!



Wanna Live Forever? Become A Noun from NPR on Vimeo.
Joseph Guillotin, Henry Shrapnel and Jules Leotard became immortal -- by entering the English language. But NPR's Robert Krulwich and Adam Cole discover that when your entire life is reduced to a single definition, the results are sometimes upsetting.

Producers: Robert Krulwich and Adam Cole
Music and Animation: Adam Cole (youtube.com/cadamole)
Assistant Producer: Maggie Starbard
Production Assistant: Marina Dominguez
Supervising Producers: Jessica Goldstein, Maria Godoy

PALSy-Walsy with Lydia Aiello for Listening & Speaking

You heard about it here first! At long last, Lydia Aiello’s highly successful PALS (Pronunciation and Listening and Skills) series is about to receive its second instalment, Sentence PALS. Lydia began her three part series for students and teachers with Word PALS which introduces awareness of North American English pronunciation through an organized, simplified instructional workbook that provides a variety of listening and speaking activities focused on improving learner’s detection and production skills. Word PALS  includes: 3 audio CDs, an answer key, & teacher's notes. Sentence PALS will take learners beyond the word level into the realm of the rhythm and timing of sentences by creating awareness of content stress, connected speech, reductions, and intonation. The exact release date of Sentence PALS is yet to be determined but it won’t be long now. Lydia’s as busy as a bee finalizing the publication. Her website is undergoing major reconstruction at the moment. For information or ordering Word PALS and Sentence PALS feel free to contact Lydia by Email directly at: lydiaaiello@hotmail.com

Lydia Aiello's Book One - Word PALS

Concordancers Can Help

Sometimes the right way to use a word in a sentence can elude students. Fortunately, concordancers can help resolve any uncertainty.  Users enter words, phrases or structures into the concordancer which outputs a list of all instances of the word, phrase, or distributed structures along with immediate contexts, from a corpus or text collection. Many concordancers are available on the Internet. My favourite is the Université du Québec à Montréal Lextutor concordancer. Click the image below to try it. The interface may seems frightening, but don't worry because all you need to do to get a concordance is enter is the keyword(s) and choose a Corpus . Once you get better at it you can try out the options and other controls. 



http://www.lextutor.ca/concordancers/concord_e.html

Here is sample output so you know what to expect:



Concordancer Sample Output

American English Pronunciation

If you're looking for pronunciation help, you must visit and subscribe to Eva Easton's YouTube Channel. There are close to one hundred videos on more topics than you can shake a stick at. There are also several useful grammar videos. Click the image below to visit the Eva Easton's YouTube Channel. Don't forget to check her website http://evaeaston.com/ because you'll find interesting and useful material there too!

http://www.youtube.com/user/evaeaston

Students and Teachers Get Out Your Defibrillators Now!

You'd better learn CPR because you're having an English Attack! This site lets teachers teach and learners learn like never before. It's focused on increased and enhanced exposure to English through entertainment. Great videos, photos, and games abound. The site states: "Our approach is anchored in the latest EFL/ESL pedagogical thinking, including the lexical and communicative methods; a lexical approach to grammar; and contextual learning. We reinforce this by applying the principles of cognitive neuroscience (a non-threatening learning environment; stimulation of learning via emotion; motivation through discovery; repetition to enhance retention; learning by doing) and games-based learning (immediate reinforcement; challenge vs. stress; "failure" as a normal part of the learning curve; very achievable rewards and enhanced social status instead of grades and proficiency tests), especially those most relevant to teen and young adult language learners". Click below and see for yourself.

english-attack.com

Perhaps My Favorite

Of all the words games I play, Boggle is perhaps my favourite. It's fun, easy, and educational. English students at any level can play. The number of players is from one to however many can be squeezed around the table. Click here to read a little more about the history and rules of Boggle. Most department store toy sections carry Boggle. Last time I checked, the game cost was under $20 and I recommend buying this box version. For me the iphone/ipad version is better than any online version. Click below if you want to try an online version just get a feel for the game. If you enjoy using and expanding your vocabulary Boggle is for you.


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Boggle - Box Version

If you can't find the box set above, there is a newer version which looks like the image below. I've never tried it but it's probably all right.

Newer Version of Boogle

Great for Spelling and Vocabulary

To create and practice spelling and vocabulary word lists, here is a great site. Students, teachers and parents should be interested because it features a comprehensive set of interactive spelling lessons, games and exercises. Unlimited practice is available on each topic which allows thorough mastery of the concepts. Click below to visit the site:


aaaSpell.com



More Favourite Games and Puzzles

If you're like me, you often get the urge to do a crossword puzzle. The Universal and Newsday Crosswords are two of my favourites. I know they're not in the same league as the NY Times Crossword but for me their degrees of difficulty (which usually augment as the week progresses) is just about right. Click on the puzzles below and you can print them out or complete them on line. 

                                                           

   Universal Crossword

Newsday Crossword

Which Dictionary?

Students often ask me for advice on which dictionary they should buy. I always advise them:


1) Never buy a dictionary at the buck store. Those dictionaries aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
2) Buy a dictionary that includes both American and British English.
3) The dictionary should provide understandable pronunciation detail and other etymological information.


So which dictionary satisfies the criteria? The Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary satisfies the criteria and it's not all that expensive under $30. It's not compact enough to carry to class but it's one you will want at your desk for as long as you're a student and throughout your entire work career.


For about $150  The Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary comes in pocket-size electronic form and offers audio for pronunciation as well as annual online update.

Some Favorite Games and Puzzles

I think it's time for me to begin sharing some of my all time favourite games. They're all fun and help me improve my vocabulary. I'm sure they'll help you. Click the logos and check out JUMBLE and Fowl Words. I know you'll enjoy them. You may need to install Shockwave.

Great Book

Do yourself a favour and check this book. It's a great pronunciation aid.


Elements Of Pronunciation

Welcome

So let's get to it!