Learning English with videos

[irmamar]

A friend of mine has sent me this link with English videos. You can watch them subtitled:

http://www.lingual.net/lingualproductitems/

She has sent me also this link where a man advises to throw away your grammar books. I've found it funny, but what I like is his accent: he speaks so clear...., I can understand everything. Why don't all English speakers speak so clear?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

A friend of mine has sent me this link with English videos. You can watch them subtitled:

http://www.lingual.net/lingualproductitems/

She has sent me also this link where a man advises to throw away your grammar books. I've found it funny, but what I like is his accent: he speaks so clear...., I can understand everything. Why don't all English speakers speak so clear?

Because he is american?


ouch!

[CrOtALiTo]

That man speaks very clear, I could to understand at most everything he said.

Irmamar. Thank you for the contribution, I hope you can set more videos about the learning in English that it really fault.

It was useful.

[irmamar]

I don't know his nationality, I guess he is British

In the first link you'll find a lot of short videos in English. I was looking for a similar page in Spanish, but I haven't found it . I think the videos are interesting because they are very short and you can choose to watch them subtitled or not (although they are not so clear as the one from youtube).

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I don't know his nationality, I guess he is British

In the first link you'll find a lot of short videos in English. I was looking for a similar page in Spanish, but I haven't found it . I think the videos are interesting because they are very short and you can choose to watch them subtitled or not (although they are not so clear as the one from youtube).

No, he is definitely not British. He is definitely American. In fact, I would say that he is not from the Southeastern US, either. He is speaking a little bit slowly and annunciating his words distinctly. I try to remember to do that when I teach my "English as a Second Language" Algebra class............

By the way - I have said it before and I'll say it again: These videos at the University of Texas website are FABULOUS for English speakers wanting to improve their Spanish listening skills. http://www.laits.utexas.edu/spe/index.html

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by laepelba

No, he is definitely not British. He is definitely American. In fact, I would say that he is not from the Southeastern US, either.

Californian?

Looks like I was right: his website gives a company address in San Francisco.

[laepelba]

You may be right. Californians tend to have a "generic" accent. I'm from New York (!!), so my "filter" is off.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

No, he is definitely not British. He is definitely American. In fact, I would say that he is not from the Southeastern US, either. He is speaking a little bit slowly and enunciating his words distinctly. I try to remember to do that when I teach my "English as a Second Language" Algebra class............

By the way - I have said it before and I'll say it again: These videos at the University of Texas website are FABULOUS for English speakers wanting to improve their Spanish listening skills. http://www.laits.utexas.edu/spe/index.html

Even then, when you find a person easy to understand, there comes along another one who you don't understand anything.

Persevere. That's all I can say.

Also, when you are at the point to tell apart some accents or drawls then it is time for you to read aloud while recording your voice and listening to that recording in order to soften your own accent.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by laepelba

You may be right. Californians tend to have a "generic" accent. I'm from New York (!!), so my "filter" is off.

I don't think his accent is generic: I think the vowels sound Californian, but I'm not a phonologist so I can't give any detail.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

Even then, when you find a person easy to understand, there comes along another one who you don't understand anything.

Persevere. That's all I can say.

Also, when you are at the point to tell apart some accents or drawls then it is time for you to read aloud while recording your voice and listening to that recording in order to soften your own accent.

I really should start recording myself to work on my accent. My Peruvian friend says that my consonants are not soft enough. (Although she is the same person who says "arriba" and I can't hear a "b" sound AT ALL.

Originally Posted by pjt33

I don't think his accent is generic: I think the vowels sound Californian, but I'm not a phonologist so I can't give any detail.

Like I said ... my "filter" is off! My defense is my New Yorker upbringing.