Say What?! Helping Your Students Nail Pronunciation with YouGlish

 

#YouGlish

#Languagelearning

Product: YouGlish - Pronunciation Learning Tool

Language Learning Approaches: Communicative language teaching (CLT), Behavioural learning, Authentic Materials, Contextual Learning, Visual Learning, and Self-Paced Learning. 

Language teachers worldwide continually search for innovative tools to make their lessons more engaging and effective. Whether teaching English in Oman, French in Kuwait, or Spanish in Saudia Arabia, many educators find that pronunciation can be one of the most challenging aspects for students to master. This is where YouGlish comes in. It is a free, user-friendly platform that helps learners hear words and phrases used naturally in context. YouGlish draws from millions of videos, primarily from YouTube, providing students access to authentic pronunciation examples across various accents and contexts.

Exposing our learners to various English language forms is crucial because, in the future, they may study or work in different countries where they need to communicate in English.

In this blog, I will discuss how teachers in Kuwait can use YouGlish to enhance language learning in their classrooms. 

How Kuwaiti Teachers Can Use YouGlish?

• Kuwait teachers can use YouGlish clips to let students hear a variety of English accents and real-life expressions. In class, students watch a short segment and then practice pronunciation by repeating phrases. 
• Most Kuwaiti classrooms have internet access, so it is practical to use YouGlish for listening tasks. 
• Teachers can use it to explain and practice pronunciation of certain phrases related to Kuwaiti topics. 

Now let's talk about the pros of using Youglish in the classroom

1. Authentic Pronunciation in Context:

Students don't just hear isolated words. They hear them in full sentences, improving their understanding of usage and context. 

2. Multiple Accents and Languages: 

Teachers can expose students to various accents (American, British, Australian, etc.) and languages, which is essential for global comprehension. It is also a great tool for people who are interested in learning different accents like me. 

3. Ease of Use:

YouGlish requires no installation. Just type a word or phrase, hit "Say it," and you're ready to go.

4. Playback Options: 

Students can slow down audio, replay segments, and skip to different examples, making it ideal for learners at all levels. 

5. Real-Life Examples:

You can watch different types of real videos, such as TED talks, interviews, and conversations, offering diverse contexts that textbooks often lack. 

6. Helpful tools for teachers:

YouGlish is an excellent supplement to traditional listening exercises and can be used for homework assignments.

7. Transcription:

Students hear and see the transcription under the video, which is useful, especially for students with hearing issues. Look at the photo below: 

Now let's talk about the Cons of YouGlish

1. Dependence on Internet Connectivity:

To access this tool, you need an internet connection, which may be difficult for some teachers. 

2. Inappropriate Content:

I noticed that some of the content was taken from YouTube, and some videos were unsuitable for classroom use. Teachers should check the videos first. 

3. Explanations:

It does not provide detailed grammatical or vocabulary explanations. 

4. Limited control:

You are not able to choose which videos you like. 

5. Annotuing Commercials:

Free use of YouGlish includes ads, which can interrupt a lesson's flow and distract students. 

Using YouGlish Without Internet: 

If you find the internet a problem in your class, do not worry; here are some ideas!

1. Download Videos: save clips for offline use.💋

2. Print Transcripts: ask your learners to read them.💪

3. Assign YouGlish for homework. 💁

How can YouGlish motivate your students:

1. Students listen to real conversations, not just robot voices.

2. They get used to different voices and ways of speaking.

3. Watching videos makes learning exciting.

I really recommend watching this video, it will guide you on how to use YouGlish to improve your English Pronounciation step by step - for FREE! 

Recommendations:

So, how can you use YouGlish in your classroom?😃

There are many fun and simple ways to make it part of your teaching routine.

First, pull it up during a lesson when students cannot pronounce a tricky word. Just type it and hit play! They will hear what real people say in everyday situations, such as cooking shows where they can learn how to pronounce words and how to cook at the same time. 😂

Second, use it for warm-up activity. For example, pick a few new vocabulary words from your lesson, play some examples, and let students mimic what they hear. I believe it is a great way to get them to speak without the pressure of being perfect. 

Third, you can use it for homework by asking students to look up difficult words and bring back their favourite pronunciation examples to share with the class. 

Last but not least, you can benefit from the variety of accents in YouGlish by asking your learners, "which accent was easiest to understand?" "Which one sounded the coolest?"

It is all about making language learning interactive and fun, especially if you teach Teenagers. 👀😎

I found this article about students' perceptions of implementing YouGlish in learning English pronunciation at the English department at Goole Schooler. I think it is very useful to read because it provides insights into the effectiveness of YouGlish as a tool for teaching English pronunciation.

 By understanding students' positive perceptions and experiences with YouGlish, teachers can consider incorporating it into their teaching methods to enhance pronunciation learning. 

Student’s Perceptions on the Implementation of Youglish in Learning English Pronunciation at the English Department  

Many approaches underpin the use of YouGlish, such as Authentic Contextual Learning, Interactive and Visual Learning, and Self-Paced Learning. 

I really recommend you guys to read the article to find out more and check the references list for more knowledge about using technology in your classroom. 

I have an idea for you all: why not encourage your learners to film themselves and share the videos on any social network you use with them? Would this help enhance their confidence as they listen to each other's videos? It could also be a useful way to practice vocabulary words. A short video to practice vocabulary like this one is possible.

Final Recommandations 👽

I recommend teachers use it in their classes. Many studies prove that YouGlish can help learners progress in their oral skills, especially in terms of word usage, by providing a meaningful context that helps them comprehend how oral English is used in real life.

Visit YouGlish and let the pronunciation adventure begin! 

Happy teaching! And remember, it's okay to laugh at the tricky words. Language learning should be fun! 👄

If you have any questions about YouGlish, Please do not hesitate to ask me in the comments. 💖😄