Episode 83
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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 easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques.
In this episode, we're going to do something we've never done before. Today I'll introduce you to the tongue twisters. I'll explain later what a tongue twister actually is and how it can help you with your English.
And with a mini-story, you will improve your fluency in English by answering questions, like in a real conversation.
Remember that you can get the text of this episode at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com.
So what are tongue twisters?
A tongue twister can be a phrase or sentence that is hard to say fast, usually because of a sequence of nearly similar sounds.
For example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
What a mess! Right? I get that you feel intimidated but don't worry. I'll tell you how to use them in a bit.
Tongue twisters are part of popular culture and have always been with us. This means that they are clearly useful in society. And although children find them entertaining, they are used by people who want to sound crystal clear when speaking, including actors, politicians, etc.
One of the most interesting aspects of tongue twisters is that it allows us to practice pronunciation and, above all, agility when it comes to producing sounds in the language.
Okay. Now let's see some tongue twisters.
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.
In this lesson, you will practice two of the most popular tongue twisters in English.
Let's start with "Peter Piper."
Ready?
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Let's continue with "Betty Botter."
Betty Botter bought some butter.
But she said the butter's bitter
If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter will make my batter better.
So 'Twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter.
I hope that you are having 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.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
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.
Bob is the world's fastest tongue, twister reciter.
Is Bob a storyteller or tongue twister?
Tongue twister. He's a tongue twister reciter.
Is Bob fast or slow when he recites tongue twisters?
Fast. He is very fast.
How fast is Bob?
Is he perhaps the fastest in his city?
No. He's not the fastest in his city, not even in his country. He's the fastest in the world.
Bob is training hard to beat his own record.
Is Bob training or resting?
Training. Bob is training hard to beat his own record.
Is he training for something?
Maybe to beat his own record?
Yes, he's training to beat his own record.
What is he training for?
To beat his own record.
Whose record?
Bob's. Bob's record.
Now imagine you're seeing Bob
at the time of the record-breaking test:
Bob is reciting as fast as he can.
Is Bob reciting or singing?
Reciting. He's reciting.
Is he reciting quickly or slowly?
Quickly. He is reciting as fast as he can.
How is he reciting?
As fast as he can.
Bob is moving his arms as he recites.
Is Bob moving his arms or feet?
His arms. He's moving his arms, not his feet.
Is Bob reciting with his arms still?
No. Bob is not reciting with his arms still. In fact, Bob is moving his arms as he recites.
What is he moving to?
His arms.
What does he recite?
Ah...This is a little difficult. He's reciting tongue twisters.
Bob's face is turning red during the test.
Is Bob's face turning blue?
No. Not blue. He's turning red.
What color is Bob's face turning?
Red. He's turning red.
When is his face turning red?
Before the test, during the test, or after the test?
During the test. It is turning red during the test.
Now imagine that the test is over:
Bob just got the world record, even though his face looks like a tomato.
What did Bob just get?
A tomato?
No, no, not a tomato. The world record. He just set the world record.
What record?
The world record.
Who just got that record?
Bob. Bob just got it.
Does Bob's face look like a tomato or a cucumber?
A tomato. It looks like a tomato.
Bob is very happy, but he needs to rest.
Is Bob depressed?
No. Bob is not depressed. He's very happy.
How's Bob?
Very happy. He's really happy.
Does Bob need anything?
Yes, Bob needs to rest.
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 that is difficult to say quickly and clearly.
pronunciation
the way a word or language is spoken.
sequence
a set of things arranged in a particular order.
record-breaking
better or greater than any previous record.
similar sounds
speech sounds that are close in pronunciation.
consecutive
following one after another without interruption.
recite
say a memorized text aloud.
mundane
ordinary and not especially interesting.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
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