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| From Wiki article on speech. Click to see the mouth and tongue and throat move. |
On the 'Polyglots (The Community' page in Facebook, somebody asked for recommendations on how to practise speaking a language.
Powerpoint Presentation
I have written an introduction to myself in powerpoint, with English in the left column and Chinese (Mandarin) in the right hand column. I shall practise it and eventually deliver it at a bilingual Mandarin-English Toastmasters club in Singapore.
Each slide is a simple sentence which I would use to introduce myself to a Mandarin speaker if we met. For example, My name is ...;- I am a teacher - of English; I am British; I live in London, England; I also live in Singapore.
My aim is to read this every day, once or twice a day, perhaps first thing in the morning if I wake early, over coffee, or last thing at night, and read it aloud.
Earworms
Another system good for spoken languages is Earworms. The vocabulary is great for travellers. You hear simple sentences you might say on a plane and around a city you visit.
You could keep it on your laptop. Or play it in the car. Or play it as you fall asleep.
Duolingo
Duolingo is also good. It is multiple choice and has symbols you can click on to hear the word said. Listen and say the phrase aloud three times. At the end of each exercise click on the review button. Even if you got all the words right when it comes to recognizing them, use this exercise to read the words aloud.
If you are not sure about your pronunciation, ask in the forums.
Skills Future
The Singapore government subsidises skills course for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Courses include languages such as Spanish.
Tinycards
Language cards, which say aloud the words so you can copy them. From the Duolingo people.
Wikipedia
When looking up the cities you will be visiting on your next trip, click on the sound button in the Wikipedia article about the city. The sound button is after the name.
You could try reading Wikipedia in your target language, such as French or Spanish or many other languages. Check the list of available languages in the left hand column of your wiki pages. Read the English version and then the other language and read that aloud.
Google Translate
You can also put the names of cities into Google translate. I type in 'Google translate' every time but the website is 'translate google'.
Learn With Buddies
If you want to practise speaking, find a buddy.
Online through Polyglots on Facebook.
In person through Meetup in your city.
You can list your interests on Meetup and attend meetings organized by others. Alternatively pay to organize an event or series of events on Meetup. Or list events in Facebook Events on a suitable page.
YouTube
Type in the language you want and the word learn and you will find several options. FluentYou has videos from native speakers and offers one month free trial. that is handy if you are going on holiday in a month's time or less or just want to get started with the right pronunciation. If you are on business with an expense account or think language is vital to negotiating, you might later use their paid for version.
Useful websites (listed alphabetically)
CONVERSATION
https://www.conversationexchange.com/
Duolingo.com
Earworms
https://www.earwormslearning.com/
Eurolingo
https://www.eurolingo.sg/spanish/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/polygotcommunity
FluentYou
https://www.fluentu.com/en/
Google Translate
https://translate.google.com/
Greek
https://www.iamgreece.org/culture/language/you-speak-greek/
Meetup
https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/start/organizing
Pronunciation of Single Words and Placenames
https://forvo.com/word
For the country name Cyprus pronounced in Greek
https://forvo.com/word/%CE%BA%CF%8D%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82/
Pronunciation in Dictionaries Online
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/british-and-american-pronunciation.html
Simple Wiki - see Wiki below
Skills Future
https://www.eurolingo.sg/spanish
Tinycards (Italian an an example and link)
https://tinycards.duolingo.com/decks/Q6xStDM/how-to-speak-italian?lesson=0
Translate - see Google above
TOASTMASTERS
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
Tripadvisor
You can ask questions.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g190372-s604/Cyprus:Important.Phrases.html
YouTube
Try FluentYou - see above
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronunciation
Simple Wiki
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet
About the Author
Angela Lansbury
travel writer and photographer
teacher of English and other languages. I have many more posts on language learning and destinations. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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