英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可以通過(guò)自拍視頻來(lái)提高發(fā)音技巧

英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可以通過(guò)歌手常用的訓(xùn)練方法來(lái)提高自己的發(fā)音技巧。帶相機(jī)的智能手機(jī)也有這樣的幫助作用哦。

These suggestions come from Michael Berman. He works in the Reading, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Linguistics Department at Montgomery College in the American state of Maryland.

這些建議來(lái)自邁克爾·伯曼，他在美國(guó)馬里蘭州蒙哥馬利學(xué)院閱讀、英語(yǔ)第二語(yǔ)言和語(yǔ)言學(xué)系工作。

Many students of a foreign language have trouble with word stress and intonation – raising and lowering the sound of your voice when you speak.

很多外語(yǔ)種學(xué)生在單詞重音和語(yǔ)調(diào)方面存在學(xué)習(xí)難題，也就是對(duì)人們說(shuō)話(huà)時(shí)的聲音的升高和降低把握不準(zhǔn)。

Michael Berman believes that such problems are not as serious as some people might think. Up to a third of his students, he says, have increased their ability to be understood by using two simple actions: slowing down and speaking up.

伯曼認(rèn)為，這類(lèi)問(wèn)題沒(méi)有想象得那么嚴(yán)重。他說(shuō)，他有三分之一的學(xué)生通過(guò)兩種簡(jiǎn)單途徑就能提升他們被人理解的能力，這就是說(shuō)慢點(diǎn)和說(shuō)大聲點(diǎn)。

Common problem:

常見(jiàn)問(wèn)題：

VOA Learning English's video series Let's Learn English tells about a situation that many English learners have probably experienced:

美國(guó)之音英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)視頻系列 Let's Learn English談到了許多英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可能經(jīng)歷過(guò)的一種情況：

Anna: So, what's wrong? You look sad.

安娜：怎么啦?你看上去不太高興啊。

Pete: I don't have a job.

皮特：我沒(méi)有工作。

Anna: Sorry, I can't hear you.

安娜：抱歉，我沒(méi)聽(tīng)清楚。

Pete: I do not have a job.

皮特：我沒(méi)有工作。

In the video, Anna asks Pete to repeat his sentence because she did not understand him.

在視頻中，安娜讓皮特再說(shuō)一次，因?yàn)樗龥](méi)聽(tīng)懂。

And like many English learners, pronouncing words correctly is not Pete's problem.

和許多英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者一樣，正確發(fā)音不是皮特遇到的問(wèn)題。

The reason Anna does not understand Pete is because he is not speaking loudly.

安娜沒(méi)聽(tīng)懂的原因是皮特聲音太小。

In Pete's case, he is not raising his voice because he is sad about not having a job.

對(duì)皮特來(lái)說(shuō)，他聲音小是因?yàn)樗麑?duì)自己沒(méi)有工作很難過(guò)。

For some English learners, the problem of speaking softly is that the speaker appears to be showing weakness, says Berman. English learners may want to hide their mistakes by speaking quickly or softly. Or, Berman adds, they are bringing customs from their native language.

伯曼表示，對(duì)于一些英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者來(lái)說(shuō)，輕聲說(shuō)話(huà)是說(shuō)話(huà)者似乎有點(diǎn)緊張。英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可能想通過(guò)說(shuō)快點(diǎn)或說(shuō)小聲點(diǎn)來(lái)掩飾他們的錯(cuò)誤，或者他們帶來(lái)了自己母語(yǔ)的習(xí)慣。

Whatever the reason, the result is this: English learners might not be understandable to a native speaker.

無(wú)論是什么原因，結(jié)果是，英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可能不能被母語(yǔ)人士聽(tīng)懂。

Berman says there are several different ways to successfully deal with these problems.

伯曼表示，要成功處理這些問(wèn)題有幾種不同的方法。

Tip1 Use strategies that come from vocal music training

建議1 采用出自聲樂(lè)培訓(xùn)的策略

The first is simple: focus on the speed and volume levels of one's voice.

第一點(diǎn)很簡(jiǎn)單：注重說(shuō)話(huà)的速度和音量

By thinking about slowing down and speaking louder, you can slowly change your speech over time.

想著說(shuō)慢點(diǎn)和說(shuō)大聲點(diǎn)，你就能隨著時(shí)間推移慢慢改變自己的語(yǔ)速。

In addition to thinking about how you speak, you can also use strategies from the music industry. In voice training, Berman says, singers will often train by opening their mouth wider than they usually do. This enables them to get a better tone and a better pitch when they perform.

除了想著如何說(shuō)話(huà)，你還可以采用出自聲樂(lè)行業(yè)的策略。伯曼表示，在聲音訓(xùn)練中，歌手經(jīng)常會(huì)接受到把嘴巴張得比平常大一點(diǎn)的培訓(xùn)，這樣他們就能在表演時(shí)發(fā)出更好的音調(diào)和音高。

Singers will often imagine their voice coming up on a string to a target 3 to 5 meters away. When English learners imagine their voices hitting a target at a distance, Berman says, they often improve their ability to speak louder.

歌手們經(jīng)常會(huì)想象把他們的聲音發(fā)向三五米外的目標(biāo)。當(dāng)英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者想象讓自己的聲音擊中遠(yuǎn)處的目標(biāo)時(shí)，他們通常就能提高自己的聲音。

Tip2 Use Selfie Videos

建議2 使用自拍視頻

In an earlier Education story, we discussed the value of self-testing.

在此前的教育新聞中，我們討論了自我測(cè)試的價(jià)值。

Educational consultant Sarah Lynn said that testing yourself often is one of the best ways to learn. Lynn teaches at Harvard University's Bridge Program in Massachusetts.

教育顧問(wèn)薩拉·林恩表示，經(jīng)常自我測(cè)試是最好的學(xué)習(xí)方法之一。林恩在哈佛大學(xué)教授銜接課程。

So, how can you take this idea and use it to improve your pronunciation?

那么這要怎么做才能改善發(fā)音呢?

One way is by taking a selfie video, says Michael Berman.

伯曼表示，自拍就是其中一種辦法。

All you need to do is place the electronic device 1-2 meters from where you stand. Then, record yourself speaking.

你要做的就是把電子設(shè)備放到距你一兩米之外的地方。然后錄下自己說(shuō)話(huà)。

When you listen back to the recording, you can get valuable information about how you sound when you speak. You can share the videos with friends or your teachers. They can give you advice, too.

當(dāng)你回看視頻時(shí)，你就能得到一些關(guān)于你說(shuō)話(huà)時(shí)如何發(fā)音的有價(jià)值信息。你可以把這則視頻與朋友或老師分享，他們也能給你建議。

The value of this practice, adds Berman, increases because young people – often called "millennials – place a high value on the idea of posting videos on social media.

伯曼補(bǔ)充說(shuō)，這種做法的價(jià)值在提升，因?yàn)槟贻p人極度重視在社交媒體上發(fā)布視頻的想法。

When millennials know their video will appear on social media, he explains, they are likely to repeat the performance many times before filming. "If you're talking about English intelligibility issues, that kind of repetition and practice and focus is amazing", Berman says.

伯曼解釋說(shuō)，當(dāng)千禧一代知道他們的視頻將會(huì)出現(xiàn)在社交媒體上時(shí)，他們就更可能在錄像前重復(fù)多次練習(xí)。伯曼說(shuō)，“談到英語(yǔ)清晰度問(wèn)題，這種重復(fù)練習(xí)和集中精力是很驚人的。”

So, give the vocal music and selfie video tips a try, and let us know how they work for you!

所以，試試聲樂(lè)和自拍視頻這兩條建議，然后告訴我們對(duì)你來(lái)說(shuō)效果如何。

I'm John Russell.

來(lái)自John Russell的報(bào)道。