Episode 115
Listen to the Episode
Listen once for the main idea. Then use the transcript and repeat useful sentences aloud.
Download and study
Episode Resources
Download a file or continue to the transcript.
Best order: listen once, read while listening, then listen again without the text.
Full lesson
Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques.
In this episode, I’ll introduce you to some new tongue twisters. It's not the first time I'm talking about tongue twisters. I've done two episodes in the past, so if you want to listen to them, look for episodes #083 and #087.
And with a mini-story, you will improve your fluency in English by answering questions, like in a real conversation.
Ok. Let’s get started!
So, do you remember what a tongue twister is?
It can be a difficult phrase or sentence that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds.
For example, "Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers." By the way, if you want to learn Peter Piper's tongue twister, be sure to listen to episode #083.
Although children find them entertaining, tongue twisters are used by people who want to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc.
Tongue twisters allow us to practice pronunciation and agility when producing sounds in the language, and that’s why I’ve decided to share some more examples with you.
Are you ready?
Let’s go!
I'll start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I'll go faster.
You will see that at first, they can seem very difficult. But don’t worry about it. Just make sure to have the text in front of you so that you can follow it better.
Let’s start!
Ok. So I will say it very slowly:
1) I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Again!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Are you ready to speed it up?
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Again!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
I hope you’re having fun. Let’s continue!
The next one is quite popular. It’s short but quite difficult.
Let’s hear it!
2) She sells seashells by the seashore.
Again!
She sells seashells by the seashore.
Ok. Now I’m going to speed it up! (say it faster)
She sells seashells by the seashore.
Ok. Even faster!
She sells seashells by the seashore.
Let’s continue.
3) Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines, she sits, and where she sits, she shines.
Again!
Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines, she sits, and where she sits, she shines.
Ok. Now I’m going to speed it up! (say it faster)
Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines, she sits, and where she sits, she shines.
Even faster!
Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines, she sits, and where she sits, she shines.
Ok. This doesn’t sound like English anymore. Right? 🙂
Let’s continue.
Ok. This one is quite simple, and you’re going to have fun. 🙂
Let’s start!
4) Can you can a can as a canner can a can?
One more time!
Can you can a can as a canner can a can?
Ok. Now let’s go crazy! :))
Can you can a can as a canner can a can?
Faster!
Can you can a can as a canner can a can?
Ok. Let’s listen to the last one.
5) I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
Let’s hear it one more time!
I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
Ok. Now I’m going to speed it up!
I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
Faster!
I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
That was awesome! I really hope that you had lots of fun!
Let me give you some tips on how to use tongue twisters.
Before you try to recite very quickly, listen to each tongue twister several times. After that, try to rehearse at a slow pace. And read the text if necessary. Don't rush. Be patient, and try to have fun! You'll improve your English while playing a fun game.
Continue practicing with my complete English courses. Choose the course that fits your level and goals, and learn to speak more naturally and confidently.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer the questions aloud with short and quick responses. Repeat the Mini-Story several times to improve your speaking and listening.
Simon was a very successful tongue-twister, and he was preparing for a contest.
Was Simon a poet?
No. No. Simon wasn’t a poet.
Did Simon recite anything?
Yes. Simon recited something. He was a tongue-twister reciter.
How was Simon?
Successful or unsuccessful?
Successful. Simon was a very successful tongue-twister reciter.
Was he preparing for something?
Yes. Simon was preparing for a contest.
One night before the contest, he started reading tongue twisters aloud.
What did Simon start?
He started reading.
Did he start reading two nights before the contest?
No. No. Simon didn't start reading two nights before the contest. He began reading the night before the contest.
When did Simon start reading?
One night before the contest.
What did Simon read?
Mini-stories?
No. No. Simon didn't read mini-stories. He read tongue-twisters.
After 8 hours of practice, something terrible happened. Simon's tongue became entangled.
For how long did Simon practice?
For 8 hours. Simon practiced for 8 hours.
What happened after 8 hours of practice?
Something terrible happened.
Did something wonderful happen after 8 hours of practice?
No. Something terrible happened after 8 hours of practice.
What happened to Simon?
His tongue got entangled.
What got entangled?
Simon’s head?
No. No. Not Simon’s head. Simon’s tongue got entangled.
To untangle his tongue, he had to read all the tongue twisters backward. What did he have to read?
All the tongue twisters.
How did he read the tongue twisters?
Forward or backward?
Backward. He had to read the tongue-twisters backward.
What did he have to do to untangle his tongue?
He had to read the tongue twisters backward.
What did he have to read backward?
The tongue twisters. He had to read the tongue twisters backward.
Although Simon managed to disentangle his tongue, he could no longer speak.
What did Simon manage to disentangle?
His tongue. Simon managed to disentangle his tongue.
What couldn't Simon do?
Speak. Simon couldn’t speak anymore.
Who was unable to speak?
Simon. He was unable to speak.
Did Simon have a problem?
Yes. He had a big problem. Simon was unable to speak.
Sadly, Simon couldn't participate in the tongue-twister contest the next day.
In which contest couldn't Simon participate?
Simon couldn’t participate in the tongue-twister contest.
Who could not participate in the tongue twister contest the next day?
Simon. He couldn't participate in the tongue twister contest. Poor Simon!
When did Simon have to go to the contest?
The next day. Simon had to go to the contest the next day.
What was Simon unable to do?
Simon couldn’t participate in the tongue-twister contest.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
Tongue twister
A phrase or sentence that is difficult to say quickly because it contains similar sounds.
Sequence
A series of things arranged in a particular order.
Agility
The ability to move or perform quickly and easily; here, agility in producing sounds.
Recite
To say something aloud from memory or from a text.
Rehearse
To practice something before performing it.
Slow pace
A deliberately slow speed.
Rush
To do something too quickly.
Pronunciation
The way words and sounds are spoken.
Continue practicing with my complete English courses. Choose the course that fits your level and goals, and learn to speak more naturally and confidently.
