Recorded Pronunciation
Post-tests
To measure your progress in pronunciation, record yourself
reading the script below. Compare this to the pre-test you did
before. The words in this script are the same, but the order
of the sentences is different.
Evaluation Script
Hello. There is a new
music museum in town. They have a lot of audio
recordings with really interesting musical sounds.
Outside the museum, there is a fountain where children
often play. The water rises and falls. I think it must
be programmed on a computer. On a clear day, you can
see the mountains in the distance. It is a very
beautiful downtown center. Today, I
plan to go for a walk while the weather is good. However,
work can always change my plans. If my manager calls, I
may need to do some internet research and go to the office
early tomorrow. I'm trying to do work that is above and
beyond the average, since I am new at this workplace.
You asked me how the weather has been. Yesterday,
it was rainy and windy. I stayed home. In the afternoon I
watched a movie, washed the dishes and listened to some
new music that my friend emailed to me. But
today it is sunny. It is not easy to focus on work during
spring. The flowers are in bloom and many people are walking
to the cafes in the neighborhood. It's always
difficult to balance business and health, not to mention a
social life. My sister is coming into
town next week. I want to take her to the modern museum of
art. I think I'll take her to the downtown library as well.
Her husband is coming too. He wants to visit the pubs with
expensive beers. I figure I can add one of those to our
touring agenda.
Evaluation Questions
Now create a second recording of yourself speaking your
answers to the questions below. If you choose not to record
yourself, you can write answers to these questions.
1. Which languages do you speak? If you speak several
languages, which ones may affect your English the most?
2. How old were you when you began learning English? For how
many years have you studied English?
3. When an American speaks, how much do you understand? For
example, you might understand 50%, 75% or 95% of what an
American says.
4. When you do not understand an American, what is the reason
or reasons? For example, you might not understand because you
do not have experience listening to Americans, because
some Americans speak quickly, or other reasons.
5. When you speak to an American, how much do you think the
American understands?
6. When an American does not understand you, what may be the
reason or reasons?
7. What is your pronunciation goal? For example, do you want
to understand pronunciation rules, speak more clearly without
losing your accent, or sound as much like a native speaker as
possible?
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