Two software for English learning

Posted: 12:11 PM
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Author: Bùi Chí Thuận
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Filed under: 52TA, computer softwares, for students;, Listening, NTU, pronunciation

You can download the software from "links for Pronunciation power and Tactics for Listening AIO from mediafire.com" if you have difficulty copying the software in my class.

Technology plays a vital role in almost every aspect of life, and in this lesson today we'll go beyond the books to see how we can learn with the help of technology. In particular, we'll learn to use two software. One of them is Tactics for listening, which is supposed to improve your listening skill, and the other is Pronunciation Power, which helps you in pronouncing English sounds.

I. Presentation: (5 minutes)
What can we do with the two software? Watch a live demonstration from your teacher in class. You'll love it.

II. Preparation: (10 minutes)

II. 1. Map a network drive: (5 ms)
(You don't need to do this if you download the file from the internet)
The files are stored in a shared folder on a SERVER. When you map that folder to your computer, it saves a lot of time to access the files when needed.
Now watch your teacher to see how you can do it. If you miss any part, see the video clip below.

II. 2. Copy your files: (5 ms)
(These ISO files can be better opened with virtual drive program like Daemon tool. The instruction below is only for those who dont know how to use virtual drive)
Actually you WILL copy your files when the lesson is OVER, not NOW. But this session is intended to be here because I wanna make sure that you know how to deal with the files when you go home. Basically, when you go home, you have 2 .ISO files and you probably don't know what to do. There are many ways around this problem, but one simple way is to install a program named WINRAR. This program extracts the zipped iso files into folders so you can read it. Watch live demo, or learn to do it yourself from this video clip.

III. First software: TACTICS FOR LISTENING (40 minutes)

III. 1. How to: (5 ms)
In this session you learn how to install and use this great software for developing your listening skill:
- Open the network drive
- Go to folder "Tactics for listening SB Test Worksheet"
- Run "autorun.exe"
- Follow the instruction to get the software installed on your computer. Make sure you select the option to install the WHOLE software in your computer, else it will ask for a CD. Actually it will take a bundle of time, so imagine that it is done and plz go on to the next step.
- Run the crack "ArianaTactics patch.exe" in folder "Crack" (Oh I'm not teaching pirating soft ware, aren't I?)
- Go to start menu and enjoy the show.

III. 2. Lesson: (30 minutes)
Now we will do a listening lesson. The topic of the day is "Shopping", and you will look at the big screen and follow the instructions by your teacher to do the lesson. Plz be advised that we no longer need individual computers, so just watch the big screen and listen to the big speakers. Notice that you can control the recording, see the tape script, and check the answer key any time you need. Also, the test book is a valuable add-on for you.

III. 3. Questions and answers - Break: (5 ms)
The purpose of the lesson is for you to be able to use the lesson yourself at home. So if you have any difficulty or any question now, plz just ask before we take a short time break.

IV. THE SECOND SOFTWARE: PRONUNCIATION POWER (15 minutes)

VI. 1. How to: (5 ms)
- Open the network drive
- Go to folder "PRONUNCIATION POWER 2"
- Run "pp2.exe". You'll see the program interface. No installation needed.
- Go to "Lessons" menu. If you see a lady's mouth, go to next step. If you have an error "Director Player Error", you properly does not have Quicktime player in your computer. Quit the software, go to "QuickTimeInstaller" inside the folder, and run "QuickTimeInstaller.exe". After you finish, run "pp2.exe" again.

IV. 2. Have a lesson: (10 ms)
I'm not to drive you crazy with a pronunciation lesson but let's see, you will learn with a software, not me, right?
- Why don't you start with the pair /i:/ and /I/? We'll go for /i:/ first
- Here it goes. The "Lessons" menu shows you how to read the sounds, with drawings to demonstrate how things move inside your mouth, and a clip to show how your mouth should look like if you read it correctly (This is why you need a mirror for learning pronunciation).
- The "Exercises" menu offers you a variety of activities for practicing. Your teacher will show you all, or you can find out yourself at home.
- Notice that you can record your voice and playback to compare with the original speech.

V. FEEDBACK: (10 minutes)
What you think about the lesson today? Let me know what you think about any aspect of it. You like it? You dont like it? You want more? You've got enough? What could be done to improve? You like the software? You gonna use the software to enhance your skills?... Please write your ideas in the "Comments" of the post. Wonder how to do it? See the clip below.

Minimal Pair 5: /ei/ vs /e/

Posted: 10:45 PM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

First, let's practice the sound /ei/

Look at yourself in a mirror, try to imitate this animation while pronouncing the sound.

Do the same thing as you practice the sound /e/

When you a confident with single sounds, try the pairs below:

PAIN			PEN
pain	pen	gate	get	shade	shed
mate	met	aid	Ed	baste	best
lace	less	freight	fret	taste	*test*
bait	bet	wait	wet	chase	chess
late	let	rain	wren	flake	*fleck*
main	men	date	debt	rake	*wreck*
cane	Ken	raid	red

+++Technorati Tags: English learning, English teaching, blog in teaching, technology in English teaching, pronunciation, online English, English lesson plan

Minimal Pair 4: /æ/ vs /e/

Posted: 9:37 PM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

First, let's practice the sound /æ/

Look at yourself in a mirror, try to imitate this animation while pronouncing the sound.

Do the same thing as you practice the sound /e/

When you a confident with single sounds, try the pairs below:

PAD			PAID
man	men	sand	send	mass	mess
rack	wreck	had	head	band	bend
flack	fleck	ran	wren	sat	*set*
jam	gem	land	lend	bland	blend
bat	bet	dad	dead	manned	*mend*
tan	ten	mat	met	slapped	*slept*
sad	said	gas	guess

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Minimal Pair 3: /i:/ vs /e/

Posted: 12:28 AM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

First, let's practice the sound /i:/

Look at yourself in a mirror, try to imitate this animation while pronouncing the sound.

Do the same thing as you practice the sound /e/

When you a confident with single sounds, try the pairs below:

BEAT			BET
beat	bet	cheek	check	teal	tell
seed	said	meat	met	leans	lens
teen	ten	seal	sell	eel	l
seat	set	peat	pet	heed	*head*
mean	men	read	red	dean	*den*
feel	fell	steam	stem	bead	*bed*
neat	net	feed	fed

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Minimal Pair 2: /i/ vs /e/

Posted: 11:32 AM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

First, let's practice the sound /i/

Look at yourself in a mirror, try to imitate this animation while pronouncing the sound.

Do the same thing as you practice the sound /e/

Now practice these words in pairs:

BIT			BET
bit	bet	miss	mess	fill	fell
pin	pen	did	dead	wrist	rest
bill	bell	lid	led	pick	*peck*
lit	let	rid	red	will	*well*
tint	tent	tin	ten	chick	*check*
list	lest	knit	net	hid	*head*
pit	pet	din	den

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Minimal Pair 1: /i:/ vs /i/

Posted: 1:05 AM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

First, let's practice the sound /i:/

Look at yourself in a mirror, try to imitate this animation while pronouncing the sound.

Do the same thing as you practice the sound /i/

Now practice these words in pairs:

LEAK			LICK
leak	lick	sleep	slip	eat	it
sheep	ship	leap	lip	meet	mit
deep	dip	peek	pick	heat	hit
beat	bit	ream	rim	beat	bid
feet	fit	keen	kin	bean	bin
seat	sit	cheek	chick	ease	is
lead	lid	team	Tim

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The ABC with IPA transcription and audio

Posted: 12:21 PM
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Author: Bui Chi Thuan
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Filed under: pronunciation

Not every student can tell the ABC, let alone read all the letters correctly. Master it now if you want to improve your pronunciation, and confidence in listening and speaking.