Rhymes And Rhythm: Poem-Based Course, A For English Pronunctn

Description: Rhymes and Rhythm : A Poem-based Course for English Pronunciation Study Contains Paperback and DVD Audio (Audiobook) and CD-ROM (Data) Rhymes and Rhythm: A poem-based course for English pronunciation Rhymes and Rhythm provides targeted pronunciation and listening practice through the medium of verse. Featuring lively, engaging poems ranging from limericks to raps, it offers an innovative and effective way for students of English to improve their understanding, and to be better understood. Focusing on areas such as syllable length, linking, weak forms and stress placement, tasks and poems allow students to practise the understanding and production of fast, natural speech. A key to the tasks is included. The accompanying CD-ROM contains detailed notes for teachers and ideas for additional activities, as well as extra material in the form of clearly presented complementary visuals. 'Pronunciation is woefully neglected in all mainstream language courses but it is the one area in which we can have lots of fun with patterning of sounds in a way which is acceptable even to teenagers and adults. The only book which I know that has systematically tried to do this is the wonderful Rhymes and Rhythm [...]' - David A. Hill, 'Language Play and Creative Language Learning' Key Features * CD-ROM containing extensive material for teacher use, including visuals for OHTs or interactive whiteboards; suggestions for using the visuals; ideas for pronunciation lessons and games and ideas for other follow-up activities * vocabulary notes * audio material on DVD * uses a variety of different types of poem * can be used by learners of most ages and capabilities Review: "This book offers a fun, unique way for learners to improve their English pronunciation and listening comprehension. A variety of original and engaging poems from limericks to raps are used to expose learners to the rhythm and 'music' of the English language. It provides a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of assimilation in order to help learners improve their production and understanding of natural speech. The book comes with an audio DVD and CD-ROM, which includes teacher's notes and extra activities, as well as OHP visuals. My favourite thing about this book is the authenticity of the audio tracks, and the fact that the author emphasizes 'breaking it down rather than slowing it down' in order to increase learner awareness of what really happens in the English language. Even though the audio files feature a British speaker, the accent is light enough to render the book appropriate for use in a variety of contacts globally. Rhymes and Rhythm is designed to be taught as a course in itself, but individual activities from the book could be incorporated into a course as warm-ups or time-fillers, according to the needs of the students. The book is well organised and easy to follow, with a task key included in the back. Vocabulary work is built into the course as well, although students are encouraged to focus more on the melody of the language itself, rather than trying to decipher the meaning of every word in the verses. Quite a bit of metalanguage is used throughout the text, however, which learners would need to become familiar with either before or during the use of this text. The book is nicely laid out with large well-spaced print, but most of the pages are filled with text and I would want to use more pictures to provide visual stimulation for my students. Overall, I think this is a lovely book that would make a great addition to any teacher's library. It demonstrates the key features of English pronunciation nicely, with interesting activities that students would find both entertaining and useful." -IATEFL Voices: March-April 2012 Issue 225, Angela Richardson, EFL Instructor Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Contents: Contents General introduction Part I: Syllables, stress and rhythm Chapter 1: Syllables, stress and rhythm Part II: Stress in words and phrases Chapter 2: Stress in verbs Chapter 3: Stress in nouns and adjectives Chapter 4: Stress in compounds and phrases Chapter 5: Stress patterns in words and phrases Chapter 6: Stress shift Part III: Fast, natural speech Chapter 7: Introduction to fast, natural speech Chapter 8: Elision Chapter 9: Assimilation Part IV: Playing with poems Chapter 10: Limericks Chapter 11: Other types of poem Chapter 12: Similes, sayings and sounds Appendices Appendix 1: Key to the tasks Appendix 2: Completed poems Appendix 3: Book map Appendix 4: CD-ROM thumbnails Author Biography: Michael Vaughan-Rees founded the IATEFL Pronunciation Special Interest Group, which he co-ordinated for over 20 years as well as editing its journal/newsletter, Speak Out. He has taught languages and linguistics up to university level, most recently at the Free University, Berlin, and is the author of several books and dozens of articles. He is currently writing raps for a Berlin-based EFL publisher.