Laura - I worked with a student who was successful in reducing some of her nonstandard constructions and pronunciations. Her method was to listen to a book on tape and read aloud while listening to the tape. She started with an advanced children's book and moved into simple adult books. The self-help books worked the best. Listening to standard forms of the language while practicing the pronunciations provided good practice. It took a lot of time and effort, but she was successful. Best wishes to your student... NJ At 02:41 PM 12/2/98 -0500, you wrote: >Laura, > >Perhaps she could watch C-Span. While some members of Congress are pretty >colloquial in their speeches, many of them read their speeches rather well. >The "Special Orders" speeches given in the evenings are usually longer than >the type where a member rises to give a two-minute speech for or against >pending legislation and often are carefully crafted. > >Hopes this helps, >Paula > >At 12:59 PM 12/2/98 -0500, you wrote: >>Dear Fellow Listers, >> >>I have a student who is from a small, rural community where colloquial >>language does not adhere to the rules of Standard American English. She is >>making great strides in learning how to write in Standard American English, >>but her spoken English is still straight from home. She would like to >>change this in order to avoid the prejudices many people have against >>speakers of non-standard dialects. She is planning to take a public >>speaking course next semester, but I think there must be an intermediate >>step she could take between now and then. Any suggestions? >> >>Thanks and a hat tip, >> >>Laura >> >>Laura Symons >>Academic Resource Center >>Sweet Briar College >>Sweet Briar, Virginia 24595 >>[log in to unmask] >>http://www.arc.sbc.edu >>804-381-6378 >> >> > >__________ >Paula Ford voice: (814) 949-5112 >Coordinator, Learning Resources Center >Penn State--Altoona College >3000 Ivyside Park >Altoona, PA 16601 > >http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/p/x/pxf3/ > >"Den som har drømt Udfærd og Dåd senker ej Sejl uden med Sorg." Bjørnson > >