Applied Phonology for ESL Teachers of Spanish-Speaking Students”
Publication Release Announcement
For the immigrants, and others with limited English ability, to develop adequate communication skills, Klein developed Listen and Speak to fill a serious gap in teacher training and a void in instructional materials to solve listening, identification, and speech problems of students in ESL (English as-a-Second Language) training programs. Too many ESL programs today, for too long have depended on “osmosis” for students to progress in basic listening and speaking skills. Many ESL teachers have no training in the sound system of English, the production of English sounds, or problem solving for speakers of specific other languages. This text fills that gap, and its exercises are designed as a supplement to any other materials being used. It could also be used in a listening and speech class for non-native speakers of English as a primary text.
The primary objective of the training presented in Listen and Speak is to provide non-native speakers of English the same listening skills available to native speakers of English. The average ESL student misses many words without the teachers being aware of this failure. Generally students are unwilling to indicate their problems in understanding. The overall effect of this miscomprehension also affects other language skills including reading and writing.
The secondary objective of the training in Listen and Speak is to provide non-native speakers of English instruction allowing them to speak accurately enough to be fully understood by native speakers of English; even those who are unaccustomed to dealing with speakers of other languages. Total accent elimination is rare and not necessarily a realistic goal for most ESL students. The final exam should be for the student to communicate adequately, to both understand and be understood, in an actual bank, mall, or other place of business.
The third objective of Listen and Speak is to provide both the ESL instructor and students some insight into the probable causes of listening and speaking problems. Many of these problems are much more complex than they appear on the surface and often represent a multifaceted series of differences that may be built into single words or groups of words. Although this text was devised to specifically explain the problems of Spanish speakers and provide exercises to solve these problems, the exercises are quite usable with speakers of other languages. The sound systems of English and Spanish are different enough on all levels, so that exercises for Spanish speakers may cover a large percentage of problems of speakers of many other languages. Explanations of causes of problems by speakers of other languages are not included, except in a few cases in the English Student Text. English vowel sound identification and production problems are almost universal.
CONTENTS:
The introduction to this text is designed to familiarize the user with the study of phonology, including both phonemics and phonetics as they pertain to language instruction. This includes a list of realistic objectives to be applied in the classroom and a brief general review of causes of phonological problems.
Following the introduction is a chapter on consonants, including descriptions of consonant sounds in American English and a review of listening and speaking problems of Spanish speakers and their causes.
Next is a chapter on the formation, identification and production of American English vowel sounds, based on a numerical classification system to be used to identify vowel sounds throughout ESL training. Following that is a review of general problems of Spanish speakers including timing, syllable shape, primary stress and vowel reduction.
The next chapter contains extensive vowel hatch recognition, identification, and production exercises, which are critical to English comprehension. After that are chapters containing exercises in vowel and consonant contrasts utilizing minimal pairs of words, minimal pairs of sentences and sentence production exercises mixing the contrasts. Following the consonant exercises is a series of exercises on the hearing and production of initial English consonant clusters.
Next is an introduction to suprasegmental aspects of English, including a user-friendly stress/arrow juncture marking system and sample dialogs utilizing this system. Following is a previously unpublished test developed by the author to diagnose individual phonological problems, which can be used to set training objectives for individual students or groups. Finally is a brief review of some of the techniques that can be used in the classroom to reinforce listening skills and basic English structures, using the “Bag of Tricks,” introduced in my “ESL Criteria performance Measure.” (© 2003 Ted Klein)
Phonological exercises in Listen and Speak are provided on four compact disks for classroom, laboratory or home use. Student editions of Listen and Speak with introductions and some explanations in both English and Spanish are also available. Listen and Speak; English Student Text and Listen and Speak; Spanish Student Text (Escuche y Hable) both contain a full set of four compact disks for self or group practice.
Critical comments on LISTEN AND SPEAK: Applied Phonology for ESL Teachers of Spanish-Speaking Students by Ted Klein
“Listen and Speak is a well-developed, user friendly applied phonology text for both ESL students and teachers. The listening and speaking exercises are very engaging and practical, not only for Spanish-speaking students, but for anyone who is trying to master the complexities of the English language sound system.”
Dr. Marilyn Rahilly, US Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition
“To sharpen one’s skills in teaching English as a second language, the best thing to do would be to watch Ted Klein in a classroom. The next best thing would be to use this book. ESL teacher training programs are heavy with theory. They may teach the wonders of phonology, which any good teacher MUST understand, but they do not train teachers to use it as a tool. When I encountered Ted’s methods, I threw away my previous methods for teaching the sounds of English. Ted’s approaches to training a student’s ear are clear, concise and highly effective interventions derived from the field of applied phonology. Also very useful are the ready-to-go exercises to help students grasp and use English sentence structures.”
Thomas Linker, MA in ESL, Adult Education ESL Instructor for refugees for the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Austin, Texas.
The best thing someone could have done for me in 1963 when I went to Saudi Arabia to teach English would have been to give me a copy of Listen and Speak. Although the exercises are designed for Spanish speakers, they would have been excellent for my Arabic speaking students as well, and they are superior to anything I had then or would be given today. The exercises are numerous, varied, useful, and most effective. Best of all, the teachers’ introduction to English phonetics and phonemics allows those with no linguistic training (as I was then) to understand precisely how we produce English sounds. . . how we pronounce English words, phrases, and sentences. With this understanding, it is simple to teach students what to do. Listen and Speak also provides a clear explanation of most important elements of the sound system of English throughout the text in a manner all teachers, no matter their level of training, will appreciate.
R. Anthony Robson, PhD, former Director, International Division, Center for Applied Linguistics; former Director, Program in English for Foreign Students, University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Listen & Speak; Prices and Ordering
Listen & Speak; Applied Phonology for ESL Teachers of Spanish-Speaking Students
Retail Price: $36.50 U.S. dollars.
Includes four audio compact discs, each with 80 minutes of listening, identification and repetition exercises. Individual residents of Texas will also owe a state sales tax.
ISBN: 978-0-9798985-0-1
Listen & Speak; Spanish Student Text (Escuche y Hable)
Retail Price: $32.50.
The Spanish Student Text is designed for classroom, laboratory, or self study. Introduction and explanations of listening and speaking problems of Spanish speakers are in Spanish. The book includes four audio compact discs, each with 80 minutes of listening, identification and repetition exercises. Individual residents of Texas will also owe a state sales tax.
ISBN: 978-0-9798985-1-8
Listen & Speak; English Student Text
Retail Price: $32.50
The English Student Text is designed for classroom, laboratory, or self study. The introduction is in English and explanations are designed for speakers of various languages acquiring English. The introduction includes a general familiarity with the American English sound system. The book includes four audio compact discs, each with 80 minutes of listening, identification and repetition exercises. Individual residents of Texas will also owe a state sales tax.
ISBN 978-0-9798985-2-5
Orders can be placed by e-mail directed to: tedesl@austin.rr.com Each book will have a $4.00 shipping and handling charge. International clients may have additional expenses.
Mail orders can be directed to:
tedklein-ESL.com
14456 Agarita Road
Austin, Texas 78734-2009
Telephone orders can be directed to: 512-266-1801
Special information inquiries should be e-mailed to taklein@austin.rr.com
The Instructor Texts with CD’s will be discounted to organizations participating in the “Applied Phonology Workshop” described at www.tedklein-ESL.com
All versions of Listen & Speak are available for direct purchase at the:
Austin Community
College Bookstore
817 W. 12th Street
Austin, Texas 78701