Let’s Use Tongue Twisters to Improve Speech

 

Tongue twisters are phrases that are difficult to say quickly, usually because of their similar but distinct sounds. They are often used to improve pronunciation and articulation skills. They are important because of their ability to improve pronunciation due to the benefits of clarified sounds and words.

 

Advantages of Tongue Twisters

Tongue Twisters are helpful for developing articulatory skills in English Language. Basically, they can help with doing mouth exercises, resulting in strengthening and stretching your facial muscles and it also helps in reducing stuttering and other speech difficulties.

For speakers and readers this is an efficient way to warm up before giving a speech. It is quite a popular and significant way to increase fluency with clarified sounds in English learning. Additionally, the repetition of words in tongue twisters helps in improving brain connectivity.

 

How to Master Tongue Twisters

It can be frustrating for some basic learners because the rapid repetition of words might be confusing and hard for them; but take it as a fun way of developing speech because it is a fun activity that can engage both the brain and the tongue.

 

Tips for Mastering Tongue Twisters in Any Language

Tongue twisters can be a delightful challenge, whether you’re aiming to improve your pronunciation, dexterity in a new language, or just want to have some fun. Here are some expert tips to help you master tongue twisters in any language:

Begin by enunciating each word slowly and clearly. This helps you understand the sounds and patterns involved. Gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. Practicing in front of a mirror can help you observe the movements of your mouth and tongue. Repeat them as a habit, now it is possible to record using your mobile phone and revise where you went wrong.

Wet your lips, give it a basic warm up by making stretching to your lips and repeating letters related to your lips (like /p/ sound), tongue (like /th/ sound) teeth (like /s/) and throat (like /h/). Making them ready will reduce the stutters and mistakes in articulation.

 

How to Use Tongue Twisters in the Classroom

Display a tongue twister on the board. Say it once yourself, modelling and stressing the correct pronunciation. Say it together as a class multiple times, gradually increasing the speed. Repeat with as many tongue twisters as desired. Optionally, ask the students to then write their own tongue twisters.

Write a number of points beside each tongue twister, print it out and give it to your students. Practice them (to start, maybe only work with the top 3 tongue twisters). Divide the students in groups of 3 or 4. Each group then gets a chance to try one tongue twister. One group member picks a tongue twister and then says it aloud.

Hand out copies of the tongue twister to your students and have them read it to themselves. Discuss any words they may not be familiar with. Make sure they understand what the tongue twister is trying to say.

 

List of Tongue Twisters

1. Six sticky skeletons.
2. Truly rural.
3. She sees cheese.
4. Fresh fried fish.
5. Eleven benevolent elephants
6. Willy’s real rear wheel.
7. Red lorry, yellow lorry.
8. Daddy Draws Doors.
9. Three free throws.
10. Cooks cook cupcakes quickly
11. The big bug bit the little beetle.
12. Friendly fleas and fireflies.
13. I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop
14. I scream, you scream, We all scream for ice cream.
15. He threw three free throws
16. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen
17. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
18. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
19. I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch
20. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you
21. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread
22. Swan swam over the pond, - Swim swan swim!
23.  She sells sea shells by the seashore -And the shells that she sells are sea shells for sure.
24. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
25. Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter.
26. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely.
27. how much wood would a woodchuck chuck -if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
28. I slit a sheet, a sheet, I slit. - Upon a slitted sheet, I sit.
29. The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday
30. Rory the warrior and Roger the worrier were reared wrongly in a rural brewery
31. A big bug bit a bold bald bear and the bold bald bear bled blood badly

 

There are more tongue twisters on the web, this list is taken from a hand out distributed in Rathnapura zone as it is ordered simple to complex. The post sourced from writings of various posts from the web, the intention was to give comprehensive idea of using Tongue Twisters to develop spoken abilities of the readers. If you find this post is useful, please share them among the students who learn English.