Pratique du Shadowing: American English Connected Reading & Intonation | Tech meeting (Part two - Intonation) - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
1
Hey, what's up?
2
It's Alex.
3
Today, I'd like to look at the sentence intonation for each sentence in this recent Connected Sounds video that I just released.
4
Let's take a look.
5
I'm pretty swamped on my end.
6
So remember, the context for this piece is that you're in a meeting, and somebody else has recently spoken,
7
and now it's your turn to tell everybody what's going on.
8
So I'm and my are both kind of said with higher tones
9
because you're contrasting them with whatever somebody just said about their work.
10
They talked about their work, now you're going to talk about your work.
11
I'm pretty swamped on my end.
12
So swamped is the stressed part here, and pretty is in between I'm and swamped, so it kind of falls in the middle of the pitch patterns there.
13
I'm pretty swamped on.
14
is a function word so it usually gets de-stressed in the sentence.
15
Now my is a function word too, but here we're contrasting like I said so my gets a little bit more emphasis in the sentence.
16
And finally we just go down with their voices at the end.
17
On my end.
18
I'm pretty swamped on my end.
19
I've been working on getting the new API's ready for Python and Java.
20
I've been.. so the point of this sentence is you're working on APIs, Python, and Java.
21
That's the point of this first half of the sentence.
22
So, working is going to be stressed because it's important new information.
23
I've been is said really quickly
24
and in a low part of your voice at the beginning of the sentence because it's just kind of grammar information.
25
We already know from the context that it's you who's working, so we don't need to really stress I've been working.
26
It sounds better to say I've been working on I've been working on getting the new APIs ready for Python and Java.
27
So getting is part of getting ready.
28
So we only need to stress this, the second part here, ready, getting the new APIs ready, the new APIs ready.
29
So new is important, APIs is important, new APIs ready for Python and Java.
30
And both of these words where we're going up with our voice are important parts of the sentence,
31
but for and and are not that important for the meaning.
32
They're important for the grammar, but not for the meaning.
33
Next, we go up with our voices here at the end of the first half.
34
At the comma, we'll go up on Python and Java, Python and Java, but I ran into a few issues yesterday,
35
but I ran into a few issues yesterday.
36
So here ran into is is an important verb because it's getting ready to talk about what happened to the issues.
37
You ran into the issues.
38
I ran into a few issues yesterday that I'm still trying to get fixed.
39
That I'm still trying to get fixed.
40
You hear how these function words are de-stressed in the sentence.
41
I ran into a few issues yesterday that I'm still trying to get fixed.
42
And we go down with our voices at the end of the whole sentence.
43
I've been working on getting the new APIs ready for Python and Java, but I ran into a few issues yesterday that I'm still trying to get fixed.
44
I'll keep everyone posted.
45
Again, we have the first half of the sentence, and we'll go up with with our voices,
46
add that comma, because the comma and going up with your voice shows people that you're not finished with the sentence.
47
And you can hear, as I'm explaining this, I'm following the same rules.
48
As I'm explaining this, go up, I'm following the same rules.
49
Go down.
50
I'll keep everyone posted.
51
So keep everyone posted.
52
Everyone isn't so reduced as a function word would be.
53
Keep everyone posted.
54
kind of in the middle of your voice.
55
It's not as far down as everyone.
56
I'll keep everyone posted.
57
Posted.
58
So keep posted is a phrasal verb and so it kind of gets stress on both parts of it.
59
Keep everyone posted.
60
I'll keep everyone posted.
61
So but I think I'm gonna have to.
62
Remember it's gonna have to, not going to have to.
63
So gonna have to.
64
But I think I'm gonna have to.
65
So have to is stressed a little bit there because it's a little bit important for your meaning.
66
I'm gonna have to push the release date for these tools back to next Tuesday.
67
Push the release date for these tools back to next Tuesday.
68
Push the release date for these tools.
69
The word the here is de-stressed because it's just a function word and the same thing with for and to.
70
Everything else we stay kind of up with our voices and we keep the rhythm going.
71
The release date for these tools back to next Tuesday.
72
For these tools there's a little bit of a pause there after that because you're pushing something, you're pushing the release date. For what?
73
For the tools.
74
Where are you pushing it?
75
Back to next Tuesday.
76
You see the sentence naturally has chunks, and each chunk has a little bit of a swinging rhythm to it.
77
Push the release date for these tools back to next Tuesday.
78
Now, I've drawn on here a downward fall on release date.
79
Push the release date for these tools, and that's because for is de-stressed, so date kind of falls in between release and for.
80
Release state for these tools back to next Tuesday.
81
And then at the end there, next Tuesday.
82
Tuesday gets a stress point because it's both important information and it's the end of the sentence.
83
We need to link our de-stressed to with to, the beginning of Tuesday, back to Tuesday.
84
And next fits in the middle there, both in our rhythm and in our pitch, back to next Tuesday.
85
I'm pretty swamped on my end.
86
I've been working on getting the new APIs ready for Python and Java, but I ran into a few issues yesterday that I'm still trying to get fixed.
87
I'll keep everyone posted, but I think I'm going to have to push the release date for these tools back to next Tuesday.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will focus on the intricacies of intonation in American English during business meetings. Following the guidance provided in the video, you will practice how to apply sentence stress and pitch variations to enhance your communication skills. By understanding how to emphasize important words while de-stressing function words, you can improve your clarity and engagement during conversations. This practice will be helpful for both IELTS speaking practice and general English speaking practice, enhancing your ability to contribute meaningfully in discussions.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Swamped: To be very busy or overwhelmed with tasks.
  • APIs: Application Programming Interfaces, crucial in software development.
  • Ready: Prepared for use. Emphasize this word to convey readiness effectively.
  • Ran into: To encounter unexpectedly, often used to describe problems.
  • Issues: Problems or challenges that need to be addressed.
  • Keep posted: To maintain updates on a situation.

Practice Tips

Utilize the shadowing technique to enhance your pronunciation and intonation skills. Listen carefully to the video, and try to imitate Alex's speech patterns and emotional tone. Start slowly, focusing on individual phrases, and as you become more comfortable, gradually increase your speed to match the video. Pay particular attention to the stressed words and how they rise in pitch—this helps convey important information and keeps your listener engaged.

When practicing, consider repeating sentences multiple times to improve your fluency. Use a shadow speech approach by initially pausing the video after each sentence and repeating what you hear before continuing. This will help solidify your understanding of the intonation patterns within the context of a professional meeting.

In addition, recording your practice sessions can provide insight into your progress. Listen back to identify areas where you can improve, particularly the rhythm and flow of your speech. Consistent practice using these techniques will not only prepare you for IELTS speaking practice, but will also deepen your confidence in real-life conversations!

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.