Pratique du Shadowing: American English Intonation | Daily Life English: Food Order (part two) - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Hey what's up, it's Alex.
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Today let's look at the intonation in a short piece where somebody is ordering food over the phone.
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Let's take a look.
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So this is an interesting sentence because it ends with a high tone.
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Normally in a normal English sentence, you end with a low tone.
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But this is how I've always done this when I make a phone call and order food for pickup.
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I always end it in a high tone and the reason is just kind of politeness.
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It sounds a little bit more polite and like you're being patient or maybe waiting for something if you end your sentence in a high tone like that.
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So: "Hi there" "hi there" - we go high, low Look at the reduced sounds there, the "I'd" and "to" so I'd like to order for pickup Here we have falling tones and kind of stress marks all along this sentence after "I'll have" Think about the rhythm and the stress points in that sentence.
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Look at that very, very common sentence opening That part's all in a low tone So here: fried chicken, mashed potatoes These are two-word nouns In a two-word noun the stress or the high tone is usually on the first word.
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So we rise, rise, rise through the sentence keep it on a high tone until "coleslaw" So here we could say I don't need any drinks though (low tone on the whole sentence) But again it's about the politeness feeling.
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When you're on a call and you're placing an order, you want to be polite right?
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So when we speak more in a high tone and it sounds a little bit more energetic it gives you more of a polite feeling.
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So that could be a whole sentence just by itself "Do you know when I should come by?" Come by? That would be a yes/no question, right?
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But you're adding extra information, right?
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So again it's a yes/no sentence so we'll rise at the end of it and we keep that high tone during the whole thing or during the important parts of the whole thing so that they can feel that we're being polite and friendly

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video focuses on American English intonation, particularly useful when ordering food over the phone. Practicing with real-life contexts like these is essential for any English speaking practice. By mimicking the intonation patterns, you not only enhance your pronunciation but also learn how to sound polite and friendly in various situations. Intonation plays a crucial role in communication, influencing how your message is received. Using the shadowing technique, where you repeat after the speaker, helps reinforce these subtle nuances, making your conversation skills more natural and engaging.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

  • High and Low Tones: The speaker highlights the importance of intonation by demonstrating how questions and statements can differ in tone. For instance, ending a sentence with a high tone conveys politeness, making your requests sound more patient.
  • Reduced Sounds: Notice phrases like "I'd like to order." The reduction in syllables here makes the speech more fluid and conversational, which is key in everyday English.
  • Two-Word Nouns: In phrases like "fried chicken" and "mashed potatoes," stress typically falls on the first word. Understanding this helps learners emphasize the correct part of the phrase when speaking.
  • Yes/No Questions: The rising intonation at the end of questions, such as "Do you know when I should come by?" is a critical feature of English. This structure helps clarify intent and engages the listener effectively.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with this video, pay close attention to words that might trip you up, especially those with reduced sounds. For example, "I'd" and "to" can be easily mispronounced if you're not familiar with their casual forms. The speaker also discusses the importance of maintaining a high tone to project friendliness, which can be a challenge for non-native speakers. Another potential trap is the pronunciation of two-word nouns. Remember to put the stress on the first word, as in “fried chicken”, to ensure clarity in your speech. By using this shadow speech, you can practice these sounds effectively, enhancing your ability to speak like a native.

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.