Pronunciation Workshop

Pronunciation Power Activation : Help and information about activating your Pronunciation Power CDs.

Pronunciation Tips : These tips will help you get the most out of your Pronunciation Power program.

Additional Pronunciation Exercises : This page contains additional exercises that you can do using your Pronunciation Power program.

Pronunciation Glossary : These are some of the words used to talk about pronunciation. You will find them in the instructions for your Pronunciation Power program.

Pronunciation Power Activation

Although they look the same a serial number and an activation code are two different numbers. Pronunciation Power is delivered with a "serial number".

The serial number enables access to the software on any machine (computer) for a period up to 15 days. The activation code allows indefinite access on one specific computer. (We will support you if you need to change computers.)

You can activate your software on your system using one of two methods.

1. Recommended
   One-Click Activation (large oval button) will complete the process for you automatically. You must be connected to the Internet to use this activation process.
    
2. If you do not have Internet access (or experience problems with One-Click Activation) the other option is for you to provide us with your serial number and MACHINE NUMBER and we will generate the activation code for you. To do this, click the button that says "email or fax." When you do this you will create a form on your desktop called "PronunciationPower_LIC.html". Fill in this form and email or fax it as instructed. You will receive your activation number by email or fax.

We recommend that with your system connected to the Internet, you simply click the "One-Click Activation" button.

Pronunciation Tips

These English pronunciation tips will help you get the most out of your Pronunciation Power program.

Tip 1
Do not confuse pronunciation of words with their spelling! For example, "threw" and "through", although spelled differently, are pronounced the same. Also, identical letters or letter clusters in words do not always produce the same sound. For example, the "ough" in "though" and "through" represents a different sound in each word. Learn to practise what you hear, not what you see.

Tip 2
Imagine a sound in your mind before you say it. Try to visualize the positioning of your mouth and face. Think about how you are going to make the sound.

Tip 3
Listen to and try to imitate the Pronunciation Power instructor. In addition to listening for specific sounds, pay attention to pauses, the intonation of the instructor's voice and patterns of emphasis. This can be just as important as the pronunciation of sounds.

Tip 4
The English language has many different dialects, and words can be pronounced differently. It is important, however, that you pronounce words clearly to ensure effective communication.

Tip 5
Finally, the Pronunciation Power program is a tool to help you. But you must practise what you are learning! Remember that you are teaching your mouth a new way to move. You are building muscles that you do not use in your own language. It is like going to the gym and exercising your body. Use the program to exercise your mouth a little bit each day.

Additional Exercises

This page contains additional exercises that you can do using your Pronunciation Power program.

Additional Exercise 1
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
Write down all the words that have that sound.
Check your work by using the toggle button.

Additional Exercise 2
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
Write down the words from the Sentences that have unusual spellings for that Sound.
Find other words in a dictionary that use the same spelling for that sound.
Example: Sound uw as in pool: unusual spellings - through, blue

Additional Exercise 3
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
Give 2 examples of each of the different ways of spelling a sound.
Example: Sound f as in fat: other spellings - phone/phonetic, cough/enough

Additional Exercise 4
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
List 20 words that have silent letters in them.

Additional Exercise 5
Find which vowel sounds use 2 vowels to spell a single vowel sound.
Example: country, boat

Additional Exercise 6
Find which consonant sounds use 2 consonants to spell a single consonant sound.
Example: ship, think

Additional Exercise 7
How many different ways can you spell the following sounds?

• iy as in me
• ow as in road
• uw as in soon
• U as in put
• f as in staff
• s as in sent

Additional Exercise 8
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
Write down 20 words. Break these words into syllables.
Check your work in a dictionary.

Additional Exercise 9
Choose a Sound in Pronunciation Power Main Menu.
Go to Exercises and choose Sentences.
Find and write down the following:

• 30 different 1-syllable words
• 20 different 2-syllable words
• 10 different 3-syllable words
• 5 different 4-syllable words

Check your work in a dictionary.

Pronunciation Glossary

These are some of the words used to talk about pronunciation. You will find them in the instructions for your Pronunciation Power program.

Air flow : The flow or passage of air out of the mouth.

Aspiration: A small "explosion" of air when you make a sound.

Auditory : Hearing (not seeing).

Clusters (blended sounds) : Two or more sounds put together to make a single sound.

Curl : A position of the tongue where the tongue is shaped in a curve, not flat.

Flatten : A position of the tongue where the tongue is flat not round.

Glide / Slide : Move the tongue as you say the sound.

Hard palate : Hard part of the roof of the mouth.

Intonation : Change in pitch of a sentence, up and down.

Lengthen sound : Make the duration of the sound longer.

Lips spread : Lips are open slightly and pulled back.

Lower : Bottom of mouth.

Pitch : Amount of height or depth of a sound.

Pressed lips : Top and bottom lips touching.

Protruded lips : Rounded lips, pushed out.

Roof : Top part of your mouth, inside.

Round lips : Make a circle with lips.

Shorten sound : Make the duration of the sound shorter.

Soft palate : Soft part of the roof of the mouth.

Tap : Touch quickly.

Tooth ridge : The hard area directly behind your top front teeth.

Top of mouth / Roof of mouth : Area of tooth ridge, hard palate and soft palate.

Unvoiced (voiceless) : The vocal cords do not vibrate.

Upper : Top of mouth.

Visual : Seeing (not hearing).

Voiced : The sound is made by vibrating the vocal cords (voice box). To test whether you are making the sound voiced, put your fingers on your voice box. With a voiced sound you should feel a vibration. All vowels are voiced.

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