Learning English: Accent Training like Potty Training!

You're learning a lot about American English pronunciation.

你學習了很多關於美式英語發音

How Americans talk and how to sound American.

母語者如何說話、如何聽起來像母語者

And as you've learned, you've started to become aware of all of your English habits that you'd like to change.

而如同你現在所學習到的， 你意識到現在你必須改變所有的英語習慣

You start to become incredibly frustrated.

你開始感到沮喪

It feels impossible to take what you're learning about pronunciation

你無法理解你正在學習的發音，

and apply it to actual real conversations that you're having.

並將它應用到真實對話中。

In this video, we're going to talk about the process

在這部影片中，我們會談論到學習發音的過程

that takes you from knowing something to being able to do it regularly without even having to think about it.

從你開始了解發音的規則到 甚至不用考慮對錯就能持續的練習

As i've been raising my son who's two, I have noticed lots of little things

當我在教導我兩歲大的兒子時， 我發現到很多經常被忽略的事情

that made me think about teaching my adult students and accent training.

那讓我想到我在教導成人學生和口音訓練的部分

One of the things that's so different about pronunciation training

有一件事是關於差異很大的發音訓練

is that it's different for most of the learning we do as adults.

那就是對於我們成年人來說，學習的方式並不一樣

When you were learning English, you were likely learning it as knowledge for the mind,

當你在學英語時，你是有意識地在學習

which is what almost all of the learning we do as older children and adults is, at least here in the US.

也就是大部分的我們還有年輕人常使用的學習方法，至少在美國是這樣

We're learning things to know, like memorizing vocabulary or English verb conjugations.

我們透過記憶單字或是英語動詞變形來學習事物

Things that you can write and talk about.

那些你可以寫作和談論的事情

Training in a sport or on a musical instrument or singing

運動訓練、音樂樂器、唱歌

is a lot more like working on your accent than studying English is.

比起學習英語更像是努力在你的口音上

Some people think I'm an English teacher.

有些人認為我是一個英語教師

I correct them. I'm not.

我必須更正。 我並不是

That's not how I think about myself at all.

那不是我認為的我的樣子

I'm primarily an accent trainer.

我是一個口音訓練師

I try to figure out how to help students understand and change their habits

我試著弄清楚該如何幫助學生了解口音 和改變他們的習慣

to be more comfortable and confident speaking English.

讓說英語變得更自在、更自信一些

A while ago, I was reading a book about raising kids that really reminded me of the different phases of learning

不久前，我看了一本關於扶養孩子的書 那提醒了我不同的學習階段

when working on your accent.

學習口音也有階段

I talked through this same sequence all the time with my adult students.

我一直告訴我的成人學生這些相同的過程

And you know what the book was about?

但你知道那本書是什麼嗎?

It was about potty training.

是一本便盆訓練的書

That's right.

This is where Stoney was learning something totally new about his body

這就對了

Stoney在學習全新的自己的身體

and I had to try to understand his experience, to help guide him through it.

而我必須試著去了解他的經驗，好幫助他走過去

The book said this: the first phase is diapers.

書上是這麼說的：第一階段是 尿布

From newborn until it starts to become something that he notices or we start talking about.

從新生兒直到他開始注意到尿布 或我們開始談論尿布

Think of a newborn.

想想新生兒

Total unawareness about something like peeing.

完全不知道什麼是尿尿

This is phase one.

這就是第一階段

As he moves out of diapers he has to start noticing something about his body

當他脫離了尿布，他會開始發現他身體的不一樣

that he hadn't paid attention to before.

那些他不曾注意到的

This is phase two.

這就是第二階段

This isn't just like my adult students working on their accent and being easily understood when speaking.

這不就像是我的成人學生在口說時想要輕易地理解口音

You're starting to notice something about your body, the way that you sound,

你開始注意到你的身體，你發音的方法

that you hadn't necessarily paid attention to before or even known how to pay attention to.

你以前沒有必要注意或甚至知道如何注意

The book talked about how first, Stoney will notice after he's peed.

書談到在Stoney小號後，第一次他會如何注意到這件事

He'll be able to say: I peed.

他能夠表達：我尿尿了

Of course that's disappointing if your goal is not to have your kid pee his pants.

當然你會感到失望， 如果你的目標是要你的小孩不要尿褲子

But it's a necessary step in this process.

但這是必經的過程

This is not a habit yet.

這還不是個習慣

He's still understanding what's happening.

他還在了解發生什麼事了

This is phase two.

這是第二階段

He no longer has total unawareness, he now has awareness when something has happened.

他不再完全沒有意識到， 他現在已經意識到事情已經發生了。

Phase three is being able to tell me when he's peeing as it's actually happening.

第三階段能夠告訴我他什麼時候正在撒尿， 因為它實際上正在發生。

So phase two is past.

所以，第二階段過去了

You notice it after it happens.

你在事情發生後才了解

Phase three is present.

也就是第三階段

You notice it as you do it.

當你正在做時你能夠注意到

Phase four, you may have been able to guess, is future.

第四階段，你可能已經猜到了，是未來。

You think about it just before it happens.

在還沒發生時，你就能先預想到

This is the phase he's in now, thankfully, where he can say: I'm going to pee, or I need to pee.

這是他現在所處的階段， 他可以說：我要尿尿了或是我需要尿尿

That's a lot easier to deal with than: I peed or I'm peeing.

跟我已經尿尿了或我正在尿尿還要好處理多了

And there's a fifth phase.

而接下來是第五階段

That's the phase where he doesn't tell us anymore.

那就是他不用在告訴我們了

It's just part of normal life and he goes to the bathroom when he needs to.

這就只是日常生活的一部分， 他會在他需要的時候自己去上廁所

Let's talk about these phases with changing a pronunciation habit.

讓我們來談談在改變發音習慣上面的階段

Phase 1, total unawareness.

第一階段，完全無意識

You've never known about the sounds of American English or what you were doing wrong.

你不知道美式英語的發音 或是沒有意識到你的發音是錯的

You've learned English but you've never specifically studied pronunciation.

你學過英語了但是你從未認真去研究發音

So when you first start studying, you learn all kinds of new things,

所以當你開始研究時，你學習各種新事物

like exactly how the AH vowel sounds that it's not in your language and how it's made.

像是如何準確地發出母音AH的聲音 那些不存在或是所組成你的語言的聲音

That's something you learn with the mind and that's very satisfying.

這是你有意識學到的東西，而且非常令人滿意。

You could describe it and teach it to someone else.

你可以描述它甚至教別人怎麼做

As I said, this is the kind of learning most of us do as adults.

如同我說的，這就是大部分的我們學習的方法

It's moving from phase 1 to phase 2, total unawareness to understanding.

從第1階段進入第2階段，完全無意識 到 理解

But there are still three more transitions to make

但還是有超過三個的過渡期

before making something a habit and this is where many of my students get frustrated.

在養成習慣之前，這也是我的許多學生感到挫折的地方

They're stuck in Phase two, and that is you know you're doing it wrong because you learned about it,

他們困在第二階段，也就是你知道你做錯了， 因為你正在學習

you notice it, but you notice you're still constantly doing it wrong in conversation.

你發現了錯誤， 但是你意識到在口說上仍然用錯的發音方式

You can't think of what to say and pronunciation at the same time.

你無法在想要說什麼的時候同時想該如何發音

You're stuck in Phase two.

你被困在第二階過

The past phase.

過去的階段

You notice it after you've already made a mistake.

在你已經犯了一個錯之後你發現了它

That can be very frustrating.

那樣令人感到灰心喪志

This is where some people want to give up.

這裡也會讓一些人想要放棄

It's their habit and they don't see how they can ever change it.

這是他們的習慣而他們看不到他們該如何去改變

How can they ever think of two things at once?

他們要怎麼一次想兩件事情

But you can get all the way to phase five.

但是你還是可以一路走到第五階段

I always try to tell my students this is actually progress.

我總是告訴我的學生這些實際上會發生的過程

You've gone from not knowing something at all to knowing it.

你已經經歷了從無法意識到可以理解的階段

Don't give up so early in the journey.

不要在這段路途上太早放棄

For example, let's say you're working on getting the UH as in butter vowel to sound really natural and American.

舉例來說，你正在學習如何像母語者 說butter裡UH母音

This one can be tough because it depends a lot on placement too.

這個可能會很難，因為它有很大程度上取決於位置。

You've learned how it's made and how it's different from other sounds,

你已經學過如何發音且它跟其他聲音的差別

you've listened to a lot of minimal pairs and now you can hear it as its own sound.

你聽過很多一組單字裡相似的發音，而現在你可以聽出差別

You left phase one for phase two.

你正從階段一前往階段二

You have awareness.

你開始意識到

And you can practice it over and over.

而且你可以一直不斷地練習

But when you're in conversation, thinking about what to say, you find you still say it wrong.

但是當你在英語口說時，想著要說什麼， 你發現你仍然用錯誤的方式在說話

You notice it after it comes out of your mouth, and this feels really disappointing to you.

在說出來之後你才發現錯誤，這讓你感到非常失望

This is where some students want to quit.

這也是讓學生們想要放棄的地方

You've started training the sound, doing the repetitions to retrain your muscles.

你開始訓練發音，不斷的重複去訓練你的肌肉

How do you bridge your practice time to real speaking in real conversation?

你要如何聯繫練習時的成果與實際上的對話

It's actually simple.

其實很簡單

Just more training.

你要不斷的訓練

By noticing what you're doing wrong, you can focus on your practice more.

藉由意識到你犯的錯，你可以更專注在你的練習上

If there are any words that consistently don't feel right, write them down.

如果有一些字的發音一直很怪，把它們寫下來

Make sure that's one of the words that you're training ten, twenty, or more times a day.

確保那些字，你一天裡有練習到十遍二十遍或超過

You just need more repetitions of doing it right to change the habit.

你只需要更多的練習直到改變成好的習慣

A great tool can be to record yourself.

可以使用有利的工具幫助你錄音

Many people now have phones that can record audio.

現在有很多人可以使用手機去錄音

Record a conversation you have at some point during the day.

在白天的某個時刻紀錄你的對話

Listen to it later.

過一段時間在聽

Now that you've increased your knowledge, you'll be able to be your own teacher.

既然你已經增加了知識，那麼你就能成為自己的老師

You'll be able to notice things that aren't right, and you can write them down, and work with them over and over.

你能夠注意的事情是錯的，你可以寫下來， 然後持續的練習

This is great if there are certain words you're using a lot for work or your daily life.

這樣做很好，如果有些字你在日常生活 或工作中很常用到的話

Take the words or phrases that intimidate you the most

圈出犯錯最多的單字或片語

and practice them 20 or more times, several times throughout the day.

一整天都不斷地練習個20次或超過

This repetition is necessary but it will only take a few minutes.

這種重複是必要的，而他只會花幾分鐘的時間

Practice it slowly and at regular pace.

慢慢地持續地練習

Imitate a native speaker by going to Forvo.com or Youglish.com to hear many samples.

可以到Forvo.com或是Youglish.com模仿母語者說話

This is how you bridge the gap between practicing and real conversation.

這會是你彌補練習上的成果與實際對話的鴻溝的方法

It's simply more focused practice on the actual words that you'll use in your daily life.

只是更專注於練習你在日常生活中使用的單字。

And as you train more and more, you'll go through the same phases that Stoney went through for potty training.

而當你練習得越多，你會經歷 同Stoney經歷過的便盆訓練的過程

You'll go from noticing your mistake after you've made it, phase 2,

在你犯錯之後你會意識到你的錯誤，這是第二階段

to phase 3 where as you start to stay the word, your brain gets triggered

直到第三階段，當你堅持練習錯誤的單字時，你的大腦會被激發

and you remember how you want to try to say it.

然後你會記得你想怎麼發音的

Don't be afraid to repeat your word with a better pronunciation.

不要害怕去重複你想要變得更好發音的單字

As you do more training, you'll be able to think about the right pronunciation

當你做越多的訓練，你就能夠想到正確的發音

just as your brain has come up with the word and you want to say it.

就像你的大腦想出你想要說的單字

And with more training and more time, you'll no longer even think about it.

而經歷過更多的訓練和時間後， 你不再去思考該如何發音

Your confidence on a particular word or sound will be that high.

你會很有自信的說出特定的單字或聲音

You won't need to think about it, you won't notice it, it's no longer a problem for you.

你不需要去思考，你也不用去注意它， 他將不會是你的問題了

So it can be very frustrating, because the first thing that happens after you learn something

記得很可能會讓人沮喪，因為 在你學到東西之後會發生的第一件事情

is realizing how often you do it wrong, and how hard it is to change a habit.

是你了解你的錯誤，但是很難去改變一個習慣

That's true.

那是真的

And the more you learn about pronunciation the more habits you'll want to change but you can change them.

你學習越多的發音，你會發現要改變的習慣越多 但是你可以改變它們的

And don't let the work that is necessary turn you off.

不要讓必經的過程擊敗了你

You can do it.

你可以做到的

I've seen hundreds of students change their habit through regular training, repetition.

我看過數百位學生透過規律的訓練改變了它們的習慣

A little hard work and the payoff is so big.

努力一點點 但是效益很大

If you get frustrated at the beginning, you'll never move on to the next phase.

如果你一開始就感到挫敗，你就無法走到下一個階段

But if you take it as a tool for learning, and you keep training, you will get there.

但是如果你將挫敗視為學習的工具， 而且你持續練習，你就會達成目標

You'll get to where you want to be.

你可以走到任何你想要的目標

What are some of your best tips for how you've worked on your accent and made a real change?

你如何努力為自己的口音做出真正的改變， 有哪些最好的技巧？

Or for how you've stayed motivated?

或是你是如何保持動力的?

Maybe there's a particular word that you couldn't say correctly that you now say without effort.

也許曾經有一個單字你無法正確地發音 但是現在卻能夠不費力的說出來

Share the tips or tricks that you use in practicing and improving in the comments below.

在下面留言分享你在練習上或是改善口音的技巧和訣竅

What is one major victory you've had while studying English?

在你學習英語上，有什麼是你最有成就感的?

Share these things in the comments below so everyone can learn from you and feel motivated by you

在下面留言分享給所有人，這樣大家能夠向你學習 也能從中得到動力

and your successes.

還有你的成就

And don't forget, keep working.

切記，持續努力

You can't change a habit overnight, it does take some time and dedication, but it's worth it, and you can do it.

你無法一夕之間改變習慣，它需要花費時間和犧牲的， 但是很值得，而你能夠做到

I believe in you.

我相信你可以

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

以上，非常謝謝你們來到Rachel's English