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
>
>
