Tongue Twister is a phrase or sentence which is difficult to articulate without hesitation. The difficulty lies in the alliteration (repetition of sound) or a sequence of similar sounds.
Tongue twisters are a tool to practice a particular sound, to exercise pronunciation muscles and to improve pronunciation for ESL learners and students with speech difficulties. Speech therapists, ESL teachers, and classroom teachers can use this reading game instrument to improve a student’s speech.
All around the world, tongue twisters are used to assist in pronunciation and for humorous reading game fun. A game show in Japan was developed that makes contestants repeat a tongue twister without hesitation or errors; winner is the contestant who makes the least mistakes.
ESL Learners and Tongue Twisters
Tongue twisters must be read slowly to articulate each sound, the student is unable to blend the sounds but rather must stress certain sounds. ESL learners can begin a tongue twister slowly and increase the speed as they perfect the pronunciation. As well, the teacher can use tongue twisters as an assessment to identify which sounds the student has difficulty pronouncing.
Speech Therapists and Tongue Twisters
Speech therapists use tongue twisters to improve the child’s constant and vowel sounds. Tongue twisters ensure that the students articulate the syllables and not slur the sounds together. As well, if the student has difficult with the ‘p’ and ‘b’ sound, the therapist will have the student practice tongue twisters that focus on these sounds. Tongue twisters are only one aspect that a speech therapist may use to assist a child’s speech issues.
Tongue Twister Reading Game
Students will create their own tongue twisters with a group. Students will share their tongue twister with the class through a performance.
Modeled Reading Game
Teacher will create a tongue twister, following five simple steps with the class. Teacher will ask questions to students to complete the tongue twister.
Make a Tongue Twister in 5 Steps
- Choose a Name: Best letters for a name begin with B D L M P S or T. Students may choose their name, character name, or a name of movie star. Teacher may choose the name of a character in a book they are reading and answer the questions based on his characteristics. For the first tongue twister; it is best to have few restrictions on the students’ creativity.
- What did the person do?; it must begin with the letter of her name.
- Where is the person?; must begin with the letter of her name.
- When did this activity occur?; must begin with the letter of her name.
- Why did this activity happen?; must begin with the letter of her name.
Barry
Baked bread
Belinda’s Bakery
Before bedtime
Brother made him
Barry baked bread at Belinda’s Bakery before bedtime because brother made him.
Guided Tongue Twister
Students work in groups of four to create their own tongue twister. Students agree on a person’s name. Each student is given one of the four questions to answer independently. Students gather with their group to write out their tongue twister with the written information.
Teacher may choose to have all students do the same name and jigsaw the answers to illustrate a wide variety of tongue twisters with one name.
Independent Tongue Twister Activity
Students create their own tongue twister based on the five simple steps. Students draw a picture that relates to the tongue twister and writes the tongue twister in bold letters on the paper.
Tongue Twister Game Contests
- Students are divided into two teams. Students must read a tongue twister with no errors or pause. Students begin with a score of 100. Points are deducted from the score if there is hesitation or errors in pronunciation. Teams with the most points after all students have said one tongue twister wins the game.
- Students write their own tongue twister and the most difficult one to say wins the contest. The creator of the tongue twister must be able to say it without errors or hesitation to win the game.
- Students write tongue twisters to stump the teacher. Each student who stumps the teacher may receive an award; such as points, free time, homework pass.
Ticket Out of Class
Teacher makes students read a tongue twister before they are dismissed for class. This is great practice for pronunciation and to highlight a sound.
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