Part 2 Bad Habits That Spoil the Development of Good English Language Speaking Skills

More Bad Habits That Spoil the Development of Good English Language Speaking Skills

In the first part of this article post, we began a discussion of seven bad habits which spoil the development of good English or other foreign language speaking skills. In this second part, we’ll continue with some additional aspects to be considered when teaching and learning to speak English or another foreign language.

4. Leaning Face, Chin or Head Against Hand, Fingers or Palm

By all means, learners need to avoid leaning their head against their arm, fingers, palm or hand when speaking. This prevents correct enunciation in a number of ways which can be easily avoided. Be sure that you and your foreign language learners sit or stand up straight during speaking practice sessions with hands and arms away from the head or face.

5. Having Generally Poor Posture

When speaking, neither you nor your foreign language learners should stoop, slump or be hunched over in any manner. Bad Posture restricts the chest cavity, overly compresses the diaphragm and muffles breathing and tone production.

6. Elision, Slurring or Generally Poor Enunciation of Spoken Sounds

If the practice of “cutting off” or eliding word endings is common in your or the EFL learners first language (L1), careful attention should be paid to avoiding this habit crossing over into the speech of English or other foreign language. One technique that is very helpful with this is the “mirror technique”. Briefly, a mirror is used by the foreign language learners to watch themselves speaking and pronouncing in the target foreign language. You can also imitate an English teacher or videos of correct spoken dialogues, conversation or English language sounds pronunciation.

7. Not Correcting “Problem Sounds” When Speaking

When someone is learning English as a foreign language, they tend to get stuck on a certain series of problem sounds in English. These “problem sounds” tend to be quite specific depending on the first language (L1) of the learner. Since these problem sounds are predictable, for the most part, in a particular L1 language group, the English as a foreign language teacher must take care in teaching their correct formation and pronunciation. Native Spanish speakers, for example, will need to work on the correct formation and pronunciation of letters and sounds such as: sh, ch, x, g, w, p, b, v and “th”, among others. Below is a "g" sound pronunciation video from one of my classes.

Promoting the Development of English or Foreign Language Speaking Skills

One final point for now in regards to good speaking skills development is the use of dental prosthetics. If your learners have them they can either be removed, if possible, during English class as an aid to better pronunciation, if applicable. Alternatively, the EFL teacher and EFL learner must take impediments caused by dental or other prosthetics into account when practicing speech and pronunciation in English or other foreign languages. Be sure to consult with a qualified Dentist or Orthodontist too in order to better understand the inter-related relationship between dental mechanics and speech production.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

7 Bad Habits That Spoil the Development of Good English Language Speaking Skills

Development of Good English Language Speaking Skills

When you say that you “know” a language, this more likely than not expressly means that you are able to both speak and understand that language. Even if you don’t read and write the foreign language as well as you speak it, you can still say that you know that language. So then, development of good English or other foreign language speaking and listening comprehension skills is of paramount importance. It follows then, that you need to minimize or eliminate any habits which might be potential barriers to the development of good English or other foreign language speaking skills.


Bad Habits That Spoil the Development of Language Speaking Skills

Do YOU or any of your learners have any of the following bad habits? They are some highly counter-productive habits which can foster poor development of English or other foreign language speaking skills. Every effort should be made on the part of both the English or foreign language teacher and EFL learner to avoid them while speaking.

1. Chewing Gum While Speaking

Whatever the ages of your learners, they simply should not be chewing gum while engaged in English or other foreign language learning speaking practice. It distracts from proper formation of the speech-production organs and structures. Get learners into the habit of throwing away chewing gum before entering your English as a foreign language classes. The same holds true for hard candy and lollipops.

2. Holding Any Foreign Object in the teeth, Lips or Mouth

Are you, or any of your English language learners in the habit of pencil, pen or perhaps toothpick chewing? You’ll then need to find a strategy to cease and desist from the practice – at the very least, during English or other foreign language classes. Learners should be speaking in an on-going manner throughout English class. It’s important then, to shut down this type of habit during the entire English or other foreign language class.

3. Thumb-Sucking

Even though I teach at a university, believe it or not, I still get an occasional case of habitual thumb-sucking among my English as a foreign language learners. Once a person reaches adolescence or even adulthood, if can be a tough habit to halt. You’ll have to tackle the challenge though, at least during your English or other foreign language classes. Not only does it impair proper pronunciation of many labial, palatal and fricative sounds, but makes plosive and dental combination diphthongs, triphthongs and combination sounds virtually impossible to do. Ultimately, thumb-sucking can deform the proper formation and alignment of the teeth, soft palate and alveolar ridge, all of which are essential to good speaking and pronunciation skills.

More Bad Habits That Spoil the Development of Good English Language Speaking Skills

In this part one article post, we began a discussion of seven bad habits which spoil the development of good English or other foreign language speaking skills. In the following second part, we’ll continue with some additional aspects to be considered when teaching and learning to speak English or another foreign language.

See you then.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

Teaching English in Mexico: A Roundup of Possibilities

English Language Teaching professionals with CELTA Certification

English Language Teaching (ELT) professionals with CELTA certification are constantly in demand worldwide. A key world market for English EFL teachers who are native or near-native level is Mexico. The need for teachers there is virtually insatiable. Here is a sampling of the types of English language teaching positions that are available throughout Mexico almost at any particular time of the year.

PICTURE YOURSELF WORKING IN MEXICO:


What’s on tap from Mexico City, Torreón, Puebla, Chiapas, and Oaxaca




LSET Mexico
104 Gorriones
Mexico city, DF 55720

Telephone: 865 - 6468
Fax: 865 - 6468

Contact: Director

An EFL teacher for teaching at companies to adult learners is needed. A communicative dynamic approach is absolutely necessary for this position. Also some experience is required. There are excellent bonuses and salary available. For more details and immediate consideration, write, call or fax a cover letter and resume / CV to Catalina Soria Ramirez at LSET Mexico.

Colegio Alemán
Calle Mar #675
Col. Torreón Residencial
Torreón, Coahuila 27240

Telephone: (871) 720 - 4660
Fax: (871) 720 - 4660
Contact: English Program Director

An experienced Biology / Health Teacher preferably with a science background is being sought by this colegio. Although a Canadian national is preferred all strongly qualified candidates will be considered. The person would teach grades seven through nine. Class hours are from 7:45am - 2:30pm from Monday to Friday. Salary offered is $670 US dollars per month plus bonuses with free housing and insurance. Some travel expenses would also be paid. The contract will run from January 7th to June 30th.

Berlitz Puebla
Av. 39 Pte. # 3302, Loc. 36,37 and 38 (Entrance on 33 Sur)
Las Ánimas
Puebla, Puebla 72400

Phone: 249 - 8838
Fax: 249 - 8475

Website: http://www.berlitz.com/
E-mails: NorthAmerica.careers@berlitz.com or
LatinAmerica.careers@berlitz.com

For more than a century, people from around the world have looked to Berlitz for business, pleasure, and travel language and cultural training. They know Berlitz will teach them any language quickly, enjoyably, and effectively, in just about any location. Berlitz's expertise is based on 125 years of experience. Though Berlitz is headquartered in Princeton, N.J., they have more than 400 locations all around the world, so their job opportunities can vary from one country to the next. If you would like to learn more about specific positions available in Mexico, use the navigation bar on the left of their webpage to select the Mexico homepage, then click on the employment button to access local opportunities.

A spokesman for Berlitz says that they’re always looking for qualified candidates to lead their language and cross-cultural programs, and for positions at their corporate headquarters. Please e-mail your resume and position of interest to the appropriate address for your desired geographic area.

Universidad de la Sierra AC Av. de los Tecnicos s/n
Fracionamento El Paraiso
Huauchinango, Puebla 73160

Telephone: (7) 7622 - 4888
Fax: (7) 7622 - 4888


The USAC Huauchinango is looking for an English Coordinator. The person hired would be in charge of organizing programs and managing the other EFL teachers. Both EFL teaching and administrative experience would be helpful, as would an advanced degree in TOEFL or a related field. Huauchinango is in a flower-growing region located approximately midway between Pachuca and Poza Rica on a direct route from Mexico City. The area has a high percentage of Totonac and Nahua Indians. Although the region is quite scenic, it tends to be foggy at times due to the high altitude. There’s a flower festival in the spring and plenty of locally-produced fruit wine.

North Pacific English
Arroyo Ch. No. 105
Col. Alameda
Celaya, Guanajuato 38050

Telephone: 011 52 461 608 - 0301
Fax: 011 52 461 608 - 0301


Are you a fast-on-your-feet thinker? Do you have a CELTA or TEFL certificate? Looking for adventure? Apply today, two English Motivator positions are available. One is for working with kids. Any experience with children and teacher certification would be an asset. Celaya is located on the road between Irapuato and Queretaro and is near San Miguel de Allende.

English Center Crescencio Rosas 15
Centro
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas 29250

Telephone: (967) 678 - 8468
Fax: (967) 678 - 8468
Contact: Director

Two English teacher Positions are still currently available for teaching in their 6 week long level programs that run up to 16 levels. Program makes use of a text book, work book, CD audios, VHS videos. Classes are for one hour per day from Monday through Friday or four hours on Saturdays. Extensive experience is helpful but not absolutely essential. A TEFL certificate would be a useful qualification, however.

Universidad del Mar
Kilometro 1.5 Carretera Zipolite
Puerto Angel, Oaxaca 70902

Telephone: 52 958 584 - 3049
Fax: 52 958 584 - 3049
Contact: Coordinadora de Idiomas

This small university on the coast of southern Mexico near Puerto Escondido still seeks an experienced ESL teacher with at least BA degree (in any field). Some experience is also required. Salary information is available on request. The town is a fairly small (population around 15,000) fishing village with a laid-back atmosphere near a number of good beaches. The popular lay-back-and-do-nothing beach area of Zipolite is only a couple of kilometers away.

Numerous possibilities for English Language Teaching abound throughout Mexico all times of the year with demand being especially heavy in January, July and August. Consider the possibilities and picture yourself living, teaching English and enjoying the vast cultural richness of the USA’s grand neighbor to the south.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book, "If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.