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Next update September 2008

Shadow reading
Lucy Baylis, UK

This activity uses a text from the course book, and involves listening and pronunciation practice. This task is challenging and motivating and can be used at any level.

Procedure:

1. Teacher reads the text aloud and students follow, marking the text for stress
2. Teacher reads the text a second time and the students mark for linking
3. Individual chunks that show good examples of linking or problematic pronunciation can then be drilled
4. Students practice these aspects of pronunciation by reading the text to themselves before the teacher reads the text aloud again and they listen
5. Then the students read the text with the teacher and they have to start and finish at the same time as the teacher, who reads the text at normal speed

This works well after some exposure to the rules of pronunciation - connected speech, stress and intonation.

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