Meet Tom! + Imitation Exercise

I'm here to make a video with my friend Tom.

>> We were in a show together. >> It's true.

>> About 10 years ago. >> Mm-hmm. We were in love with each other

in the show. >> We were! Our characters---

>> Right. >> ---were in love with each other.

>> It was not a 'show-mance' situation. >> We were not in love.

>> No. >> No. Just the show.

>> That was beautiful. >> Thanks.

>> Ok, no, we're good. We're good. Ok. Are you ready?

>> I'm ready. >> Ok, me too.

>> Hi everyone. I'm here with my friend Tom. Tom's going to be teaching a course for me

starting in February. Now, if you don't care about the courses, don't worry. This video

is also going to have a pronunciation exercise at the end.

>> So, I've known Tom for 10, probably more than 10 years. More than 10.

>> It is more than 10. >> A long time.

>> Yeah. It's, like, 12, 13 years. >> Anyway, he's going to be a fantastic teacher,

let me tell you why. First of all, he's a musician. And, if you know anything about

my background, that is also mine. My training was in classical singing. I didn't train in

linguistics or even in ESL. And, so he has the same background that I have. He thinks

about rhythm and pitch the same way I do, and he also has a very good ear, to pick out

specifically what's not going right in a word or a phrase. Also, Tom's an actor. He has

a Master's degree, which he got from Harvard University.

>> Very impressive. >> And, tell me a little bit about, I mean, I assume

you studied speech, and phonetics, that kind of thing.

>> Yes, absolutely. IPA was taught in speech class. Um, we had speech and voice class,

which are two separate things. So, speech was about the articulation and mechanics of

the mouth as you're making the sounds, to be understood from the stage. And then voice

was about opening up the body for more of a placement exercise, so that you were resonating

in a way that got the sound out into the house, or the audience. Um, obviously speaking from

stage and speaking in everyday is very different. Um, there's some things you just don't need

to worry about, speaking everyday English. >> But, can I say?

>> Yeah. >> Placement is a huge issue that I'm always

talking about with my students. >> Absolutely.

>> So, I'm really glad to hear that you have a background in that too.

>> For sure. Yeah. And there's lots of exercises to try and open up placement, for someone

who comes from a language where, maybe things are nasalized, and you want to bring it down.

>> Yeah, that's so important. >> There are lots of exercises to try and

open up the chest. >> And Tom's also been studying with me since

September, so by the time the course starts it'll be four, or four and half months.

And, I just, I feel like you've learned a lot.

>> I have. >> You've learned a lot about my style.

>> Yeah. >> So, Tom. Take his course, and get to know

him. You'll love him as much as I do, I'm sure.

>> Please, we have five spots left and I would love to have you in the class.

I did promise there was going to be a pronunciation exercise component, so we're going to turn

that conversation into an imitation exercise. So you'll hear little fragments of the conversation

three times, then there will be a space for you to repeat. Now, you might not be able

to get in every sound, but that's ok. We're actually focusing on the rhythm and the stress here.

So, for example, if you were to hear the phrase: I don't know [3x], and you thought, I don't

have time to say all those sounds, then just do the rhythm and the pitch: uh. We're practicing

getting that in our ear. It's not about the sounds. It's about the rhythm, and the pitch,

and the character of American English. Have fun with it.

Hi everyone.

I'm here with my friend Tom.

Tom's going to be teaching a course for me

starting in February.

Now, if you don't care about the courses, don't worry.

This video is also going to have

a pronunciation exercise at the end.

>> So, I've known Tom for

10, probably more than 10 years.

More than 10.

>> It is more than 10.

>> A long time. >> Yeah.

>> It's, like, 12, 13 years.

>> Anyway, he's going to be a fantastic teacher, let me tell you why.

First of all, he's a musician.

And, if you know anything about my background,

that is also mine.

My training was in classical singing.

I didn't train in linguistics or even in ESL. And, so he has the same background that I have.

He thinks about rhythm and pitch the same way I do,

and he also has a very good ear,

to pick out specifically what's not going right in a word or a phrase. Also,

Tom's an actor.

He has a Master's degree, which he got from Harvard University.

>> Very impressive.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.