Home When you find the words When you find the words English is a truly global language. From the first ‘hello’ everyone has a very different experience of learning a language. Throughout the journey, we each develop our own unique voices that allow us to interact with English speakers from across the globe. And today, we are far more likely to use English in conversation with non-native speakers than with native speakers. Focusing on international pronunciation and intelligibility will prepare students for successful communication, and join a global community of English speakers, while still maintaining their own unique accent and identity. #FindTheWords Sebastián Taboada (General Manager of OUP Mexico) shares his experience learning English. He speaks about the challenges of pronunciation in making himself understood and the confidence which comes from being brave enough to speak out regardless of making mistakes. In over 40 years I have had quite a journey with English learning... This is the story of where this never-ending journey got me so far. It is not just about being able to say what you want to say, but mean what you want to mean – Sebastián Taboada, General Manager – Mexico, English Language Teaching, Oxford University Press Share your story of learning a language here How pronunciation played a part in my language learning journey. Have you ever looked at a word and tried to avoid saying it because you are not sure how it is pronounced? Or worried that someone might not understand you because you have an accent? Join Małgosia Tetiurka, Robin Walker and Sebastián Taboada for a livestream on 29th June, where they will share their own experiences of learning languages and give you tips to guide your students to overcome their challenges and communicate successfully in a global world. Join live on 29th June 3pm (BST). Access from Facebook Access from YouTube Access from LinkedIn Become a Pronunciation Expert at our ELT Online Conference There are five vowel letters in English and twenty vowel sounds. A recipe for disaster! Especially when the pronunciation of English has a reputation for not being the easiest thing to learn… But the situation isn't as grim as it might appear. Find out more about ELTOC English Pronunciation for a Global World Our experts have identified international pronunciation skills as a key goal for language learners. Instead of aiming for a native speaker accent, learners should focus on pronunciation features that make them intelligible to speakers from a variety of language backgrounds. Download now Read more real-life stories of learning a language Download free teaching and learning resources to help you find the words Resources to share your story Teachers of English Help your students find the words and share those amazing moments watching them grow and achieve! Complete these fun activities with your classes and share their stories! Download a lesson for young learners (PDF, 235KB) Download a lesson for teenagers (PDF, 198KB) Download a lesson for adults (PDF, 146KB) Learners of English Share your story of learning a language with the community! What special moments have you had on your journey? Complete these fun activities and share your story! Download a Beginner activity (PDF, 245KB) Download an Intermediate activity (PDF, 129KB) Download an Advanced activity (PDF, 139KB) Resources for each step of your journey The Beginning It's easy to get discouraged when we start learning a language like English. Mistakes happen and our pronunciation is not quite right. But with sheer perseverance, there will eventually come a time when we stop actively translating word for word. We ease up and let the accent of our mother tongue shine through. When we speak or write because we simply want to communicate, when we find the words - that's when the magic happens. Read a mini series of blogs about 5 areas that hold learners back from using new language (Blog) Ideas and advice to help learners overcome some challenges of learning a new language Download learner toolkit (PDF) The Magic When we make ourselves understood, the possibilities are endless. Because learning or teaching a language like English is endless. There's always so much to discover that it can often feel overwhelming to catch up. But there's a magic in knowing we can never really master the language. All we can do is keep making progress. We can let our guard down and find the fun in discovering something new with every conversation, online and off. Download a lesson plan for Teenagers / Young Adults / Adults (PDF, 1,218KB) The Next Steps Your world gets bigger when you learn the most globally connected language. Whatever you want to achieve in life, wherever you want to go, or however you want to express yourself, learning a language like English can connect you with the world. Download Lesson Plans for Young Adults / Adults Beginner level (PDF, 379KB) Intermediate level (PDF, 263KB) Advanced level (PDF, 284KB) Download Learner Activities for Young Adults / Adults Beginner level (PDF, 226KB) Intermediate level (PDF, 244KB) Advanced level (PDF, 264KB) For videos or photos, you can share them with us on our social channels using #FindTheWords. Remember to get permission from your students or their parents before you share video or pictures of them on social media. You can use this model release form (PDF, 150KB) if you need to.
English Language Teaching
United States
English Language Teaching
United States