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Reduction
Training
Voice and Accent - A Comprehensive Toolkit
Review
Classroom :
• Pronunciation
• Analyze the data
• Intonation
Introduction
• Ice breaker
• Expectations of the
training program
• Purpose
INTRODUCTION
Voice and Accent Unit 1
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Ice Breakers The day the training begins is usually the The ice breakers need to be used with the
2nd day for them. They need to break out class per the instructions in the
of their shell and start interacting with attachment.
each other to help build rapport.
Process Template:
Ice Breakers
Microsoft
PowerPoint Presentation
Sample
SHARE A SECRET
Ice breakers This is a good ice breaker for Day 2 in a session where the
with participants hardly know each other.Would work very well with a New
instructions Hire group.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Pass around a plate full of peanuts or Candy mid way through the session and encourage them to pick up
as many as they want.. Make sure you pick up a few as well.
Voice and Accent Unit 1
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Introduction To discuss the objectives of the program Checking their expectations. Capturing them
and the game plan for the training on a Flip chart.
sessions. Taking them through a Communication
To encourage the participants to Dissection/Breakdown
participate and improve their speech Communication Tree
pattern. Microsoft
To motivate to learn PowerPoint Presentation
Without this motivation, a trainer can give a million techniques, but they will not work. The individual is
responsible for WANTING his/her speech to improve, only then will the attention and effort follow, leading to
mastery of the skill.
Voice and Accent Unit 1
Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Process Template:
The English Language
Assessment Sheet
Microsoft Word
Document
Microsoft Excel
Worksheet
Sample
S.No. PARAMETERS Fit For Floor Fit For Training Not Fit for Floor
Parameters 1. The specialist says correct consonant sounds
2. The specialist uses correct long and short vowel sounds
Rating
Voice and Accent Unit 2
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Relaxation In order to incorporate changes in our Take everyone through the Relaxation
pattern of speech we work on the smaller Exercise in a quiet room with the lights
muscles of the mouth like the lip, tongue dimmed.
etc.. This also means that we need to let
go of the stress in the larger muscles.
Relaxation also focuses on getting rid of
the mental stress that we carry with us, so
that we gain confidence with the new
things we learn.
Process Template:
Relaxation Exercise
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step by step
procedure for the
1. Unfold your arms and legs. Do not slouch or be too stiff.
Relaxation Exercise.
2. Sit back in your chair; adjust the height of the chair to your requirement.
Voice and Accent Unit 2
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Breath Control The English language works on a 10 beat Practicing exhaling with an open mouth.
rhythm as opposed to the 4 beat rhythm all Practicing the sound ‘f ’ on the out breath.
the Indian languages follow. Stretching the sound from 4 to a
This makes the English sentences longer , maximum of 20 seconds/counts.
and because we are used to a 4 beat, we
tend to pause at the wrong places leading
the listener to believe that they are not
speaking to a native English speaker. Since
we know that the Voice is formed on the out
breath it is important that we are able to
control it.
CONSONANTS
Voice and Accent Unit 2
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Consonant Sounds. Clarity in the consonant sounds drives Definition of consonants. How are they
clarity in speech. formed.
The purpose of this document is to Importance of studying Consonants.
introduce the consonant sounds used in Sounds vs. Letters.
Global English and remove MTI from the Types of consonants, Voiced and
speech. Unvoiced- definition.
Process Template:
Consonant Sounds
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
Unvoiced Voiced
p b
Types of Consonants
f v
with examples
s z
t d
sh zh
Voice and Accent Unit 2
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Sample
2. Once you have explained the technique of creating the sound, have them
create the sound in slow motion. Eg. Round the lips, create an ‘oooo’ and
SLOWLY move to ‘a’.
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Focus on Vs and Ws Vs and Ws are sounds that are usually Technique of the formation of the sound.
confused by an average Indian speaker. Individual sound practice.
To move towards global comprehensibility it Examples with V’s and W’s in different
is important that we understand this position in a word.
difference and incorporate it in our speech. Word practice.
Sentences for practice.
Application in passages
Target sound Practice as homework.
Process Template:
W’s V’s Passages
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Focus on Ls and Rs The Global ‘L’ and ‘R’ differ from the Indian Introduction to the American R and
‘L’ and ‘R’ sounds in terms of articulation. formation.
Understanding this difference and seeing Introduction to the American L and its
how it is translated in speech, will assist us formation
in understanding the American client better. Introduction to the schwa sound and its’
effect on speech.
Practicing words with ‘L’ in the tertiary
position.
Discussing how ‘R’ is spoken differently in
Process Template: British and American accents. Practicing
L’s R’s words using ‘R’:
In American it is always curled.
In British it is curled only in the beginning
and sometimes in the middle of the word.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel (Raise, praise, but not in pardon) It is
Worksheet Worksheet
eliminated in the tertiary position (Water)
In the Indian accent, it is always rolled like a
running rrrr.
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Passages for practice Once we are familiar with the correct A passage is read out by each trainee. It
sounds we should be able to apply them in can also be given as homework.
our spoken English. In both cases, the target sound as well as
We begin with the application in simple the other sounds are checked by the
sentences, moving on to passages trainer for correction.
Checking for Breath Control and pauses
will also assess the rhythm in which they
Process Template: speak : 4 beat or 10 beat.
Pronunciation is checked and the trainee
Patter Exercises Passages
is provided with corrective feedback.
Sample
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Vowel Sounds Vowels are what convey emotion in our Definition of vowels.
speech. As English is a secondary Importance of vowels
language for us, we are unable to convey Sounds vs. Letters
emotions in English. Types of Vowels.
Openness of sounds adds clarity to our
speech. This opens doors of
communication.
Process Template:
Vowels
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
VOWELS:
Vowels : Vowel sounds are produced by the uninterrupted flow of breath. These sounds
carry emotion and give due weight to a word.
LIP VOWELS are those vowel sounds that are crafted by the shaping of the
Types lips.
Aa aw oh oo
Voice and Accent Unit 3
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Types of Vowels Showing trainees how to create the varying Practice the formation of the Lip Vowels.
shades of vowels, enables them to Listen individually.
incorporate this skill into their speech. Support with Examples.
Practice the formation of Tongue Vowels.
Listen individually.
Support with examples.
Vowel Chant. Transitioning Lip Vowels and
Process Template: then the Tongue Vowels in one breath.
Application of this exercise in language.
The Powers Application
Group practice.
Stretching each sound to a maximum of 12
seconds.
Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel
Application in poem “The Powers”
Document Worksheet
Sample
Check on the THE Powers whose name and shape no living creature knows
openness of vowels
Have pulled the Immortal Rose;
Application of Ae ow aw I ay e oo oh
Vowel sounds
At Out Ought I’d Ate Eat Ooze Own
Voice and Accent Unit 3
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Process Template:
Shades of Vowels
Sample
Look Lord Lout
My Lord, look at this lout.
Combination of various oo ay ee
Consonants with different
Moon Mane Mean
shades of vowels in words
and sentences. Pool Pain Peep
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Consonant - Vowels combinations A word is formed by combining vowels and Combine all vowels with a single
consonants in various ways. consonant. Build words with that to
Once we know how consonants and support the use of this exercise.
vowels are formed and have worked on Practice the consonant clusters with the
them in isolation, we are ready to combine trainees.
these and practice them leading us closer Give examples of the consonant clusters
to effective speaking. from the poem: “The Powers”.
Keep checking individually as well.
Process Template: Group Exercise: They can form words
Consonant Clusters using the consonant clusters and give you
a list by the next day.
The poem: “Fear No More” focuses on
Breath Control. Begin by reading one line
Microsoft Excel in one breath gradually moving to a
Worksheet stanza in breath ensuring the correct
consonant and vowel sounds, apart from
breath control.
Sample
Oo oh aw ah ay ee ow i
Placement of consonants after the ItI OOT OHT AWT AHT AYT EET OWT ITE
vowels sound.
ImI OOM OHM AWM AHM AYM EEM OWM IME
Oo oh aw ah ay ee ow i
Placement of the Vowels after the
IdI DOO DOH DAW DAH DAY DEE DOW DI
Consonants sound.
ItI TOO TOH TAW TAH TAY TEE TOW TI
Oo oh aw ah ay ee ow i
Combination of 2 unvoiced or 2
voiced consonants after the vowel ImI&IdI OOMD OHMD AWMD AHMD AYMD EEMD OWMD IMD
sound.
IkI&ItI OOKT OHKT AWKT AHKT AYKT EEKT OWKT IKT
Voice and Accent Unit 3
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Diphthongs In English, sometimes one vowel letter may Listing the basic diphthongs.
denote 2 different vowel sounds together. Check for understanding.
Words for Practice.
Using them in Sentences .
The “ei” and “aei” difference. Explain
using the Berlin Wall exercise.
Quiz individually to check for
Process Template: understanding of the sounds.
Diphthongs Berlin Wall
Sample
Air Ear
Combining the consonants
IbI Bare, Bear, Blare Bear
with the two sounds to check
the difference in meaning. IpI Pare, Pair, Pear Peer, Pier
Voice and Accent Unit 3
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Rhyming Vowels Often we confuse the pronunciation in Create a word list on the board using the
basic words that are either spelt the same sounds “oo” and “ew”.
or pronounced alike. Add on the columns for ”ow” and “o”
This exercise also helps build vocabulary. sounds.
Practice with the class.
Quiz the trainees on the sounds of the
words.
Read out the poem “Fear no More” .
Begin with each trainee reading out one
Process Template: line at a time followed by 2 lines in 1
Rhyming Vowels Fear No More breath.. and so on, moving to maximum
number of stanzas in each breath.
Sample
Vowel Sounds : oo ew ow o
List the words and
sort out the different Blue, Blew Cue, Dew Bow, Vow, Bow, So,
pronunciation
Jew, Slew View, New How, Sow Sow, Sew
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Combination of Learned Sounds in Speech Now that we have gone through all the Use the passage “ Under Milk wood”.
consonant sounds as well as the vowel Step 1: Whisper the passage together to
sounds and practiced them, it’s time to emphasize the crispness of the
apply them in a passage and practice the consonants
crispness of the consonants along with the Step 2: Chant the passage together to
openness of the vowels. emphasize the openness of the vowels.
Step 3: Stand at the corner of the room,
leaning there, cup your mouth and read
out the passage as loud as possible,
Process Template: without screaming and keeping in mind
Under Milk wood Exercise the correct sounds and breath control.
And the shrill girls giggle and master around him and squeal as they clutch and thrash,
and he blubbers away downhill with his patched pants falling and his tear splashed
Check for Vowel sounds.
blush burns all the way as the triumphant bird like sisters scream with buttons in their
claws and the bully brothers hoot after him his little nickname and his mother's shame
and his father's wickedness with the loose and wild barefoot women of the hovels of
Check for consonant
sounds.
the hills.
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Syllables Understanding syllables is the first step Why are syllables important.
towards correct pronunciation. What are syllables.
Pronunciation in turn leads us to Learning to count syllables.
comprehensibility and effective speech . Making words with 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 7
syllables.
Process Template:
Syllables
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
A syllable has a vowel sound. Usually there is a consonant sound between it and the next syllable.
What are syllables,
Look at the number of syllables in the following words:
Counting them.
Great Paula Beautiful
Voice and Accent Unit 4
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
Please remember the fact that ‘ed’ becomes an extra syllable only when added to words
Past Tense Rule
ending with ‘t’ or ‘d’. This is the only time the past tense has an extra syllable.
Projected Protected Pleaded
Please remember that ‘es’ becomes an extra syllable only when added to words ending with a hissing
sound. When the original word without the ‘es’ ending, ends with a hissing sound, only then does the
Plural Rule
added ‘es’ become an extra syllable.
Office/offices Promise/Promises Beach/Beaches
A combination of two words is called a compound noun, like soft/ware. In English, the stress usually falls on the first
Compound Noun part of the compound noun
Software Hardware Carpool
Acronyms (words that are made from the first letters of a group of words) are very common in American English. The stress in
Acronyms acronyms is almost always on the last letter.
UCLA USA MTV
Voice and Accent Unit 4
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Syllable Stress This is the next step towards correct What is Syllable Stress
pronunciation. How can it be shown.
Comprehensibility problems mostly occur Rule 1: Only 1 stressed syllable in one
due to the misplaced stress in a word word.
rather than the incorrect sounds of the Support with examples.
letters. Rule 2: As the word expands .. The stress
moves forwards.
Support with examples.
Process Template: Rule 3: If we stress on 1 syllable more
Stress Rules than the others, then the preceding vowel
sound reduces.
Support with examples.
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
STRESS
Syllable stress
When we learn to break a word into syllables, the idea is to keep in mind that there is only one syllable in a word
that gets stressed.
Examples for
Organize Industry Technology
Syllable stress
Organization Industrial Technological
Industrialization
Voice and Accent Unit 4
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Sample
-ology -tion -lity -ic/-ics -ical
Common word ends
Biology Station Ability Physics Practical
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
Application of Syllable Stress Once we know what the rules are, it is List of State Names .
easier for us to apply them in the words List of Citi Terms
that we use on a day to day basis. List of the major city names.
Top American names for Boys
Process Template: Top American names for Girls.
Process specific pronunciation guide to
State Names CITI terms City Names
the frequently used words.
Auto Loans Car makes.
American Names
Aaron - AER-rn (like Karen) Damion - DAY-mee-yn Jeremy JER-rm-mee Raymond RAY-mnd
for Boys
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Process Template:
Intonation
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
INTONATION:
Terms Speech, like music, has pitch changes that create a melody.
WHAT IS PITCH?
Definition
Pitch is the frequency at which we speak.
Voice and Accent Unit 5
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Noun-verb change The same word may at times be used as a The stress pattern in a noun and a verb.
noun and at others as a verb. In both these Practice reading out the words and the
cases the pronunciation will differ. This may sentences in the class.
lead to comprehensibility problems. Ensure each trainee practices this
individually.
Process Template:
Noun-Verb change
Microsoft Excel
Worksheet
Sample
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Emphasis : Word Stress, Questions and Stressing on a particular word in a Methodology: How do we stress on a
Strong Agreement. sentence also conveys a meaning. E.g.: word more than the others.
“ I have too”, “I have to” and “I have two” Support with examples.
Practice the Exercises.
In questions which word do we stress on.
Stress in strong Agreements.
Process Template:
Emphasis
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
EMPHASIS
Emphasis:
Emphasis is used to show extra emotion in our speech. By giving extra stress to different words in an English sentence,
Meaning &
we can actually change the meaning of the sentence.
Importance
WORD STRESS:
In every word in English, there is one main emphasized syllable. The vowel sound in this syllable sounds higher in pitch,
Word Stress longer, and louder, and this is called stress.
Practice:
1. I’m going to the store. (I am, Not you)
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Question and Statements Apart from its grammatical structure, a The pitch at the end of the statement.
statement differentiates from a question by Pitch at the end of a question.
the intonation pattern as well. The absolute no-no’s of intonation: Sing
In case a statement is read out like a sing, rocket climb.
question, the listener gets confused about Different ways of intonating questions.
the meaning, or thinks that the speaker is Practice on the questions and statements.
uncertain, or that the speaker sounds Role Plays: Enact out Role play 1 to the
condescending. class. Have them prepare the remaining
role plays in pairs and present them to the
class.
Process Template:
Contours Questions Role Plays
Sample
QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS.
Whenever our statements end with a rise in the volume, it confuses the listener and they spend time trying to
figure out whether the last sentence was a question or a statement and more often than not they
Difference in
assume it to be a confirmatory question to which they reply a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ which may surprise us as we
Intonation.
never expected a reply!
Exercise A:
1. Sure I can help you with that.
Practice with 2. The turn around time would be 2 business days.
Different
Intonation. Exercise B:
1. Can you see?
2. Does he play golf?
Voice and Accent Unit 5
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Numbers An American’s life revolves around Discuss why we break the numbers in
numbers. Be it a social security number, smaller groups.
phone number or account number. How do we do that using Intonation.
Numbers may be as long as 10-12 digits at Practice.
times. Reading them out in one go
confuses the listener.
Process Template:
Intonation with Numbers:
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
INTONATION WITH NUMBERS:
How can we
When we take calls we often come across groups of digits which may be as much as 2 to a maximum of 12 digits.
Intonate Numbers
effectively. They may be Apartment numbers, Account numbers, transit routing numbers, Zip codes, Social security numbers
or Telephone numbers.
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Choices We often have not one solution, but many Relate to the intonation pattern.
options. How should we put them across to Practice with questions.
the customer?
Process Template:
Choices
Microsoft Word
Document
INTONATION WITH CHOICES:
Sample
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Pauses The role of pauses is very important in our Explain the importance of pauses.
speech since a pause defines when a Practice using the sentences.
certain thought has ended and a new
thought has begun.
In addition, it aids the management of
breath as well.
Process Template:
Role of Pauses
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
ROLE OF PAUSES.
Significance In written English, we use punctuation to show where the pauses
in the sentences should be.
Example:
Application Finally,// each time you prepare a solution// you should take into
account / the temperature of the liquids.// Don’t mix these two
liquids together / unless they have the same temperature://Room
Temperature.
Voice and Accent Unit 5
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Practice Many of us need to break out of a shell that Lead by example using the 3 short stories
restricts us from experimenting with the in which the places of inflection have been
pitch changes. These exercises focus on marked out.
breaking out of old habits and establishing Use Archie comics hand outs to groups of
new ones. 3s and 4s, have them act out the story in
front of the class.
The passage “Dark Trench Coat” can be
Process Template: used to practice Intonation.
Practice using the passage “ Deep down
Stories Trench Coat Gollum
here… Gollum”.
Assessment Sample
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
American Accent Since we are dealing with the American Explain the American sound shifts.
customer it is important that we understand Support with examples.
how the accent differs. Play audio file: “Arthur The Rat”. Fill in the
blanks.
Discuss the various accents in US:
Southern, Californian, Eastern
Process Template:
The American Sounds
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
Accents occur in the mouth, but have to be breathed out. There are three factors that make the
American English different to the Global English.
The American
Sound Shifts: 1. The “AW“ change:
The British AW sound changes to the AA sound in the American English
Examples: Bob, Dog, Doctor etc.
FLUENCY
Voice and Accent Unit 7
What
What Purpose/ Why
Why How
How
Fluency Once a person learns the correct sounds Introducing various topics to the class
and pronunciation, he/she needs to be able Have each trainee express their thoughts
to translate it to speech. in 2 minutes.
This translation of thoughts into speech Give constructive feedback.
using the correct sounds is Fluency with
the speech.
Process Template:
Free Speech Topics
Microsoft Word
Document
Sample
1. Window Exercise
2. Sell the Object
Free speech
3. Hot Seat
topics
4. My favorite Vacation Spot