Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Tongue Twisters
Tongue Twisters

Learn English meaning of ‘tongue twisters’

Date: May 15 2020

Themes: Hobbies

Grammar: Simple Past Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

When you’re learning a new language, it can be difficult to speak with correct pronunciation. The sounds may not feel natural to you. The good news is that there are many fun ways to practice clear articulation. One very popular way is to repeat tongue twisters. Tongue twisters are short expressions that use the same sound or sounds many times.

Although tongue twisters might sound ridiculous, they are actually a great way to exercise your tongue muscle. If you have trouble with the English ‘p’ sound, try the famous tongue twister about Peter Piper who picked a peck of pickled peppers. If you want to work on the English ‘b’ and ‘t’ sounds, you can repeat the story of Betty Botter who bought some bitter butter. You’ll be an expert in no time!

Andy is practicing tongue twisters as speech therapy. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear him explain his love of tongue twisters to Kelsey.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Andy_H

Andy_H

Kelsey

Kelsey

Andy_H:  She sells seashells by the seashore. She sells seashells by the seashore.

Kelsey:  Hey, Andy. What are you doing?

Andy_H:  Well, Kelsey… I am, of course, practicing my pronunciation and articulation because I am doing tongue twisters.

Kelsey:  Wow, interesting. Why are you practicing?

Andy_H:  Well, tongue twisters can be very good for speech therapy. They strengthen the tongue muscle. Check this out: Eddy edited it.

Kelsey:  Very interesting! You know, I can’t help but think it sounds a little ridiculous.

Andy_H:  Oh no, Kelsey. It’s good to be silly. Say this five times fast: toy boat.

Kelsey:  Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.

Andy_H:  Not as easy as you think, huh?

Kelsey:  I guess not.

Andy_H:  Just remember: Truly… oh, wow! Even I can’t get it sometimes! Truly rural. Truly rural. Truly rural.

Kelsey:  Wow, you really are an expert at tongue twisters.

Andy_H:  Practice makes perfect.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Simple Past Tense" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Andy is trying to improve his pronunciation by practicing tongue twisters. Kelsey thinks that he sounds a little bit silly. However, Andy explains that tongue twisters can really help people improve their articulation because they make the tongue stronger. In fact, many people use tongue twisters as a type of speech therapy.

Andy asks Kelsey to practice a tongue twister by repeating the phrase “toy boat” five times. It’s a little bit difficult, but she speaks slowly enough to repeat it clearly. Then, Andy tries to show her his favorite tongue twister phrase, but even he doesn’t get it sometimes. Finally, he is able to say, “truly rural” very fast. Kelsey is impressed.

What is your favorite English tongue twister? Which English sound is most difficult for you?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

Rodisco

Rodisco

Romania


  1. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit

10:14 AM Jun 01 2016 |

AliZ

United Kingdom

s

05:19 PM May 09 2016 |

buttafly

buttafly

Germany

A few of my favorite tongue twisters:


Susi works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines she sits and where she sits she shines.


You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York.


I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you (a perfect one to practice the /th/ sound :)

hermitlady

China

i like this sentence “practice makes perfict.”

06:35 AM May 09 2016 |

maryam1990

maryam1990

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Wow


I lthink Tongue Twisters is a great way to improve my pronunciation.


Thanks alot


 

06:12 AM May 09 2016 |

abdullah201933

Saudi Arabia

I never get diffecult when i studying english till now i am learning i never see diffecult word during my study



actually my second language is english



have a nice time witjh english


05:28 AM May 09 2016 |

1 person likes this

EVAfrommexico

Mexico

It is no easy to speak english fluenty. At the begining I used to say so much uhmmm, uhmmmm, uhmmm. 


Sing some songs help a lot to practice. 


“Practice makes perfect”, yes, thats right! :)

12:38 AM May 09 2016 |

Likes (10):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast