Comprised of six lessons offering instruction on how to pronounce, speak, read, and remember the English language with confidence, English as a Second Language opens with an introduction to the building blocks of the English language--the 26 letters of the alphabet--which, an onscreen host explains, is made up of both vowels and consonants. However, the English language is full of pronunciation tricks and traps for the unwary, so subsequent segments explain the principles of blends, the open and closed syllable rule, diagraphs, diphthongs, and soft and hard consonant sounds. Encouraging each viewer to work at his or her own pace, rewinding the tape if necessary, the program links the lessons to sight, smell, taste, and mental pictures to help visualize words, and claims that the principles espoused here will enable viewers to pronounce 90% of all English words. While it's doubtful that one video will help viewers master all the complexities of the English language, this will certainly be a useful supplement to ESL collections. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
English as a Second Language
(2004) 60 min. VHS: $39.95. TMW Media Group. PPR. Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 5
English as a Second Language
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