By Jason Bermingham
When you speak English, you're making music. Every syllable is a note,every sentence a song. To master the language, you'll need to use tempo, intonation, and mood. And what's the best way to improve your speaking? The same way musicians improve their playing: imitation and practice.
I'm an English teacher, and I'm also a musician. Some days I give a class; some nights I play a pub. By working with both language and music, I've come to realize the two have a lot in common. If you are a Brazilian English student, here are five tips that can turn you into a foreign-language virtuoso:
1) Keep the rhythm
In English, stressed words and syllables occur at regular intervals.
Verbs, adverbs, and adjectives get the most stress because they carry the most important information. Articles, pronouns, and prepositions get less stress, and this gives English a natural cadence. Practice by clapping your hands or tapping your feet to stressed words and syllables as you read aloud. This will improve your speaking in the same way that a metronome improves a musician's playing.
2) Practice your scales
Rising and falling intonation give language a melody. Rising intonation occurs at the end of direct questions. It can also turn statements into questions and emphasize words that express strong emotion. Falling intonation occurs at the end of declarations, and after questions beginning with 'Wh-'. Practice by repeating lines from movies, television, and radio programs - just like a musician practices a riff or a phrase.
3) Establish mood
Certain instruments suit a particular style of music. An electric guitar is perfect for rock & roll. A piano works nicely for jazz. Only one instrument suits English - our voice - but fortunately it's the most versatile instrument of all. Express yourself not only by what you say, but also by how you say it. A deep voice comes across as serious, while a soft voice is sexy. Experiment with mood; the possibilities are never-ending.
4) Make key words resonate
What happens when a piano player steps on the pedal? The notes reverberate and the song springs to life! I think of modals and auxiliary verbs as the piano pedals of the English language. If you step on them, your sentence will resound. Use this technique to emphasize truth, persuade, or insist.
For example: 'I did give him the money!' or 'I have done my homework!'
5) Rehearse daily
It isn't enough to understand the concepts outlined above; you need to practice! Get out and meet new people. Practice with a friend - remembering to stress words with a more or less regular beat, to vary your intonation, to emphasize key modals and auxiliary verbs, and to establish mood with voice. The reward will come later, when you meet a native speaker and get a chance to jam.
Originally published in Speak Up Magazine
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
Sunday, May 15
Writer, musician, and teacher Jason Bermingham (from the USA) will be
offering a workshop in São Paulo for intermediate and advanced
English-speakers at Finnegan's Pub. After the workshop there will be live music and a chance to meet other English speakers from around the city!
Workshop: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. / Live Show: 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Cost: R$15,00 for students / R$10,00 for teachers (food and drinks not
included).
Book early. Availability is limited. (11) 9660-5262 or
contact@jasonbermingham.com
Address: Finnegan's Pub - Rua Cristiano Vianna, 358, Pinheiros, São Paulo.
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