By Carlos Gontow*
A tongue twister is a sequence of words that is difficult to pronounce quickly and correctly. When we think about tongue twisters, we usually associate them with our childhood. As children, we usually try to recite a phrase or a tricky rhyme as fast as possible without tripping over the words. We say tongue twisters in our native language. And we have a lot of fun with them.
However, tongue twisters are not just for fun and games. They can be used in the English classroom to work on pronunciation and intonation. They can also help students to improve their accents. By combining the repetition of sounds, particularly of similar but not identical sounds, with a phrase designed such that it is made very easy to slip, these sentences can be very helpful to English students.
Even though they seem hard at first, with a lot of practice they get easier and easier. And the easier they get, the faster we can say them, and the more fun they are.
On an episode of “Suburgatory,” I found this fun tongue twister, so I put together this video that you can use with your students. Take a look and try it:
I also found these nice tongue twisters on youtube. They are fun, too, and you have a chance to see people trying to say them. You can see that even native speakers have trouble doing it.
SOLDIER, SHOULDER:
“Soldier, Shoulder”
I WISH TO WISH:
“I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won’t wish the wish you wish to wish.”
CRAM SPAM:
“How can a clam cram spam in a clean cream can?”
THICK SOCKS:
“Seth at Salisbury’s sells thick socks.”
TOMMY, TOMMY:
” Tommy, Tommy, toiling in the tailor’s shop
All day long he fits and tucks
All day long he tucks and fits
And he fits and tucks, an
d tucks and fits
And he fits and tucks, and tucks and fits
Tommy, Tommy, toiling in the tailor’s shop”
All day long he fits and tucks
All day long he tucks and fits
And he fits and tucks, an
d tucks and fits
And he fits and tucks, and tucks and fits
Tommy, Tommy, toiling in the tailor’s shop”
On the British Council site you can also find some tongue twisters for kids. They are recorded, so your students can listen to them while they try to say them:
It’s very difficult to say tongue twisters, even in our own language, so don’t worry if you can’t do it very well at first. You just have to try. It may take a while, but eventually you will be able to do it. It’s a challenge and challenges help us to learn more. And they are also fun. So, have fun!
Carlos Gontow is an English teacher, actor and teacher trainer. He has had about 25 years of experience teaching children, teenagers and adults. He’s involved with teaching English through theater, games and songs. He’s the author of the books “The Classroom is a Stage – 40 Short Plays for English Students” and “101 Dicas Para Você Aprender Inglês Com Sucesso,” both published by DISAL. He’s also the author of the blog “Dicas Para Aprender Inglês”
I usually work with tongue twisters in August because of Folklore Day..but after reading your article, I´m gonna make more use of them! Thanks!
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