Adios, Accent

Take it from a Southerner: rightly or wrongly, some people judge you by your accent. For those whose first language is Spanish, attempts to curb a native accent are often hampered by frustrating inconsistencies within the English language. To wit: there are words that look the same in Spanish, but are pronounced differently in English, not to mention those devilish vowels that can change their sound from word to word. Targeting 20 common errors in this English-only guide, ESL teacher Maria Iorio discusses each sound (providing detailed instructions for lip, teeth, and tongue placement) before offering examples of improper and corrected pronunciations. Clear onscreen graphics display either the English word with the “matching” Spanish word (“rich” and “rico”) for sound contrast, or illustrate an English word with a commonly mispronounced version, such as “Jello” and “yellow.” In addition to vowels and specific consonants, the program also covers blends (like “sh” and “th”) not found in Spanish. While the technical quality could be improved (Iorio is so over-lighted she literally appears radiant), and there's no Spanish-only version for absolute beginners, this is an otherwise excellent and affordable title for both school and public libraries. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, J, H, C, P. (R. Reagan)