| You've been working hard to improve your | | | | then it can really make a difference. |
| spoken English, hoping that soon you will speak | | | | Let's suppose you are working on the "th" sound, |
| with more of an American accent. But there is so | | | | as in think or thank you. I want you to take at |
| much to remember - pronunciation patterns, word | | | | least 10 brightly colored sticky notes and write on |
| stress, intonation, grammar - it's enough to make | | | | each of them one word or picture that makes |
| you want to give up! | | | | you think of the th sound. You might write think |
| But don't despair! There are some simple tips and | | | | on all 10, or 10 different words that start with th, |
| tricks you can use to boost your memory and | | | | or a picture of a thumbprint. It doesn't really |
| build your new English speaking habits more | | | | matter what you choose, as long as it reminds |
| quickly. | | | | you to say the th sound correctly. |
| You can use all five senses to help you learn a | | | | Now, I want you to put those sticky notes all |
| new skill, and today we will focus on the sense of | | | | over your house where you will see them as you |
| sight. | | | | go through your daily routines. Put one on the |
| Have you ever made a list of tasks you needed | | | | bathroom mirror, one on the bedroom door, one |
| to complete? Did you find that just looking at the | | | | on the refrigerator, one near the TV, one in your |
| list helped you remember to get those things | | | | office, and so on. There is no magic place to put |
| done? That was using your sense of sight to | | | | them; the best places are the ones you visit |
| remind yourself to do something different - to | | | | most frequently. Every time you see that sticky |
| finish a task on the list rather than whatever else | | | | note, it will trigger a response in your brain of "Oh |
| came to mind at the moment. | | | | yeah, I need to remember to say th." |
| Have you ever used a sticky note to write | | | | If you have the freedom at work to put several |
| yourself a message, and then stuck it | | | | notes up around your office, that is even better. |
| somewhere that you knew you would see it? | | | | The more times you look at them in a day and |
| That was using your sense of sight to remind | | | | practice, the more quickly the new sound will |
| yourself to take action on whatever was written | | | | become part of your everyday speech. After a |
| on the sticky note. | | | | couple of weeks, if you find that the notes are |
| But how can that help me with my American | | | | blending into the background but you don't feel like |
| accent, you may be thinking. You can't improve | | | | you've completely mastered the sound yet, then |
| spoken English just by looking at a sticky note...or | | | | get a different color of sticky note, make them |
| can you? | | | | again, and put them in slightly different places. |
| No, if you write on one sticky note "speak with | | | | That will trigger in your brain the response that |
| an American accent" and stick it on your desk, it | | | | something is different and once again, you will pay |
| probably won't have a great impact. But,if you | | | | attention to the notes and they will be a reminder |
| choose just one sound to focus on at a time, | | | | to improve your spoken English. |