This low-budget production featuring ESL teacher Sharon Matthews offers a series of presenters speaking words with "difficult" consonants or blends (th, wh, l, r, s, z, v, j, f, and v). Each word is spoken and shown onscreen, and an inset close-up of the speaker's mouth provides an additional tool to aid the student. Unfortunately, the technical aspects are passable, at best, and the "circle" inset of the speaker's mouth doesn't always stay on target. The first in a projected series of five videos, Those Difficult Sounds has some good teaching ideas, but they're poorly executed. The Perfect English Pronunciation series (reviewed in our October 1991 issue) is a better choice. Not recommended. (Available from: Ad/Image, 4111 Henderson Blvd., S.E., Olympia, WA 98501; (206) 943-9228.)
English As A Second Language With Sharon Matthews: Those Difficult Sounds
(1991) 30 min. $35. Ad/Image Video. Public performance rights included. Vol. 8, Issue 4
English As A Second Language With Sharon Matthews: Those Difficult Sounds
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
